In a significant escalation of tensions between House Republicans and the executive branch, House Republicans are set to vote on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to release the audio recordings of President Joe Biden's interviews with former special counsel Robert Hur. The interviews were part of Hur's investigation into Biden's handling of classified material.

The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, comes after Biden asserted executive privilege over the files, sparking a prolonged dispute between House Republicans and the Justice Department. Republicans have accused the Department of Justice of weaponizing its powers against conservatives, a claim that gained momentum following former President Donald Trump's conviction in New York for falsifying business records.

House Republicans argue that the audio recordings are crucial to their ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Biden, even though the prospects of the investigation ending in impeachment seem increasingly unlikely. They claim that the recordings could provide valuable insight into Biden's alleged abuse of his office for personal financial gain.

Attorney General Garland has been assertive in his refusal to release the audio files, stating that he will not be swayed by "baseless, personal, and dangerous" attacks. Garland's defiant stance echoes his recent appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, where he faced tough questioning from Republicans.

House GOP leadership expressed confidence that they have the necessary votes in their narrow majority to hold Garland in contempt. However, there have been reports of a few House Republicans privately expressing concerns about supporting the resolution, leading to questions about whether the vote will pass.

If the contempt resolution is successful, House Speaker Mike Johnson would certify the report to the United States attorney for the District of Columbia. While the US attorney is legally required to present the matter before a grand jury, the ultimate decision to prosecute rests with the Justice Department.

The clash between House Republicans and the DOJ began when Republican-led committees leading the impeachment inquiry subpoenaed the department for transcripts, documents, and audio recordings related to Hur's investigation. Although the department provided most of the requested materials, including transcripts and testimonies, they have refused to release the audio files, arguing that a legitimate legislative purpose has not been established by the Republicans.

Democrats criticized their Republican colleagues for pursuing the contempt resolution against Garland. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland stated that there is no basis for holding Garland in contempt unless the committee intends to hold people in contempt for complying with its demands.

The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, but the controversy highlights the ongoing political battles between Republicans and Democrats and underscores the challenges faced by the Biden administration as it navigates investigations and partisan disputes.