The House Judiciary Committee will decide later this week if they will hold President Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt of Congress for failing to give the committee access to records.
The committee will vote during a committee meeting Thursday which could pave the way for a floor vote on whether Mark Zwonitzer will be held in contempt.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan subpoenaed the ghostwriter in March to turn over transcripts and recordings of his interviews with Mr. Biden for his two memoirs. The request was in connection to the investigation by special counsel Robert Hur into Mr. Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.
Mr. Hur’s report revealed that Mr. Biden read classified information from his personal notebook to Mr. Zwonitzer. It also said that after the investigation began, Mr. Zwonitzer tried to conceal some of the recordings and transcripts between him and the president.
Mr. Biden denies that he shared classified materials with the writer.
The March subpoena followed House Republicans’ repeated attempts to obtain materials related to Mr Hur’s report that said the president did mishandle classified documents but didn’t recommend criminal charges.
They had previously demanded transcripts, audio and video from the president’s interview with Mr. Hur. The transcript was released earlier in March.
Now, lawmakers are saying Mr. Zwonitzer’s failure to comply with the subpoena has “hindered the committee’s ability to adequately conduct oversight of Special Counsel Hur’s investigative findings, the Justice Department’s commitment to impartial justice, and the President’s retention and disclosure of classified materials.”
“Zwonitzer continues to withhold all documents and materials in his possession that are responsive to the subpoena from the Committee,” the resolution said. “The materials requested from Zwonitzer are crucial for the Committee’s understanding of the manner and extent of President Biden’s mishandling and unlawful disclosure of classified materials, as well as Zwonitzer’s use, storage, and deletion of classified materials on his computer.”
The House voted earlier this month to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for refusing to turn over the audio recordings of Mr. Hur’s interview with Mr. Biden. A few days later the Justice Department declined to prosecute Mr. Garland for contempt.
The Washington Times has reached out to the attorney of Mr. Zwonitzer for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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