In a significant development, the US House of Representatives is set to vote later today on whether to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The contentious issue revolves around Garland's refusal to turn over interview tapes from a Justice Department probe into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents.

The inquiry, conducted by Special Counsel Robert Hur, raised questions about the 81-year-old Attorney General's memory. Although the outcome of the vote remains uncertain, Republicans, who control the chamber by a narrow margin, express confidence in its success. On Tuesday, along partisan lines, the House Rules Committee advanced the contempt resolution to the full House.

Republicans successfully crossed their final hurdle leading up to the vote, obtaining a narrow 208-207 majority in the preliminary session on Wednesday morning. If the vote results in Garland being held in contempt, the House will recommend that the Justice Department decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges against him. However, given that a Justice Department prosecutor is unlikely to prosecute the head of their agency, this vote is expected to be a partisan exercise.

Previous Attorneys General, William Barr and Eric Holder, were also held in contempt of Congress along partisan lines, but neither faced criminal charges. The effort to hold Garland in contempt stems from a 345-page report released by Special Counsel Robert Hur, which examined Biden's retention of classified documents after leaving the vice-presidency. The report concluded that no criminal charges were warranted, although Biden appeared to have "willfully" retained classified materials as a private citizen.

The prosecutor appointed by Garland noted the challenges in securing a conviction against Biden, particularly as jurors would likely view him as an "elderly man with a poor memory." The report's release ignited a political firestorm, with critics seizing on the president's age and lucidity concerns during his re-election campaign.

Garland provided congressional Republicans with a full transcript of the interview but resisted Republican-issued subpoenas demanding audio recordings. In a controversial move, Garland advised the president to invoke executive privilege, blocking Republicans' access to the interview tapes. Garland argued that sharing them could hinder future cooperation with the Justice Department.

With the vote approaching, Republicans have accused Garland of hiding crucial evidence regarding potential wrongdoing by the president. They argue that the interview tapes are vital for both legislative oversight and the House's impeachment inquiry into Biden. Democrats, however, contend that the interview transcripts are already publicly available. They believe critics of the president are grasping at straws and selectively editing the interview tapes to advance their political agenda.

Despite some Republicans expressing reservations about the contempt resolution, party leaders anticipate its passage. However, with a narrow majority, they cannot afford any defections. This vote carries significant implications, as it underscores the ongoing battle between the legislative and executive branches and raises questions about the power dynamics within the US government.

As the US House prepares for this consequential vote, the outcome will undoubtedly shape the future course of action and the relationship between the branches of government.