In a sharply worded letter, the Department of Justice informed Speaker Mike Johnson that it would not prosecute Attorney General Merrick Garland for contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over an audio file of President Joe Biden's deposition in his classified documents case.

"Consistent with this longstanding position and uniform practice, the Department has determined that the responses by Attorney General Garland to the subpoenas issued by the Committees did not constitute a crime, and accordingly the Department will not bring the congressional contempt citation before a grand jury or take any other action to prosecute the Attorney General," the Justice Department said. 

The letter delivered to Speaker Johnson on Friday follows a 216-207 vote in favor of contempt charges by the House of Representatives.

BACKGROUND:

Biggs Absolutely Levels Garland, Blows Up the Excuses Not to Turn Over Hur Audio – RedState

House Judiciary Votes to Advance Contempt Charges Against Garland As WH Again Blocks Biden Tape Access – RedState

Jonathan Turley Eviscerates Biden Invoking Executive Privilege Over Hur Audio – RedState

Justice Department Again Refuses to Turn Over Recording of Biden-Hur Interview. Contempt Could Be Next. – RedState

The audio is widely suspected to reveal a Biden stumbling over words and losing his train of thought.

Robert Hur just testified that Biden ghostwriter attempted to delete the audio recordings of Joe Biden's interview. Why isn’t Biden indicted yet? pic.twitter.com/OxXn3FAbbw

— ค•ค•Ր૦Ո ™ (@dunmesedupaaron) March 12, 2024

Garland's reasoning for not turning over the audio of Biden's testimony is to prevent the GOP from using the audio in attack ads. This is certainly not a legal principle.

Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon were not available for comment.