Republicans FAIL to slap Merrick Garland with $10K-a-day fine for withholding Biden audio tapes as vote spectacularly goes down

The Republican-led effort to clasp Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable for 'hiding' President Biden's audio tapes spectacularly grounded successful a stunning ballot showing ongoing turmoil successful some GOP and Democrat camps.

The solution would person fined Garland $10,000 for each time that he does not manus complete audio recordings from Biden's typical counsel question and reply successful which he appeared 'old and elderly.'

The solution was brought to nan level aft Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., forced a ballot connected it by making it 'privileged.' But it embarrassingly grounded connected nan level 210 to 204 - 12 Republicans missed votes, arsenic did seven Democrats. 

Immediately earlier nan doomed vote, House Republicans besides grounded to walk their ain spending measure to money nan legislative branch of authorities successful 2025. 

They had hoped to capitalize connected Democratic chaos aft Biden's disastrous statement capacity by projecting unity. 10 House Democrats person now publically called connected Biden to measurement down from nan apical of nan 2024 ticket.

Holding an charismatic successful inherent contempt usually intends aft a House ballot nan sergeant-at-arms would beryllium instructed to apprehension nan official, which is what Luna had primitively proposed. But fearing specified drastic measures could not pass, she changed nan consequences to a steep fine. 

It's not clear what measures nan House would person been capable to return to unit Garland to salary nan fine. 

Former President Donald Trump lended his support to Luna's efforts successful a Truth Social station connected Wednesday. 

'I AGREE pinch Anna Paulina Luna and nan galore House Members who deliberation Merrick Garland should beryllium held successful INHERENT CONTEMPT for refusing to merchandise nan Biden Tapes moreover though they were subpoenaed!,' he wrote.  

The Florida Republican and pinch a societal media influencer past was undeterred by nan eye-rolling astatine her proposal. 

The Hur tapes are not conscionable an rumor of nationalist security, arsenic it is evident Joe Biden is impaired, but has now go a criminal organized effort to usurp Congress arsenic a co-equal branch of government,' Luna said.

The Florida Republican has criticized nan Justice Department's refusal to move complete nan audio from President Biden's question and reply pinch typical counsel Robert Hur astir his handling of classified documents, moving to clasp nan lawyer wide successful contempt.

'The Hur tapes are not conscionable an rumor of nationalist security, arsenic it is evident Joe Biden is impaired, but has now go a criminal organized effort to usurp Congress arsenic a co-equal branch of government,' she said.

'I'll ballot for it, but arsenic a law litigator, erstwhile law litigator, my penchant is to travel nan ineligible process and ineligible proceedings that protect nan institution. I frankly person a small pause,' Speaker Mike Johnson said successful a news convention Tuesday. 

By Thursday, he had somewhat changed tune. He called it an 'extreme measure' but said it's an due 'last straw' connected Fox Business' Mornings pinch Maria.

Johnson suggested he wasn't judge really nan good could beryllium enforced. 'It hasn't been done earlier truthful there's nary precedent to show really to do it ... we'll spot really it's enforced.'

He wrongly predicted nan solution would pass.  

Inherent contempt which was past utilized successful 1934 connected Washington Lawyer William MacCracken, who spent 10 days successful situation for refusing to comply pinch a Senate subpoena. 

Garland handed complete nan transcripts of nan Biden typical counsel question and reply but not nan audio. The Department of Justice has insisted that blasting retired nan audio would wounded their expertise to get recorded interviews successful nan future. 

Even those astatine nan forefront of nan Biden impeachment efforts distanced themselves from Luna's efforts. 

After nan statesmanlike statement GOP Whip Tom Emmer suggested nan audio tapes mightiness beryllium irrelevant astatine this point. 

'Now I deliberation we cognize why they won't release, nan tapes of typical counsel for Hur. Maybe we don't request them anymore. We saw what we needed to,' Emmer said. 

'I deliberation if Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna wants to connection that, you know, God bless her, I'd support it,' Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan told DailyMail.com.  'But I deliberation we're focused connected going to tribunal and winning successful court.'

'I'll ballot for it if it comes up for a vote,' Oversight Chairman James Comer told DailyMail.com. 'I don't deliberation there's anyplace adjacent nan votes for that. I don't deliberation it's basal and I interest that would someway unintentionally harm nan tribunal case.'

'The past clip that was used, I deliberation members of Congress rode horses to nan Capitol. So, you know, nary 1 knows really to instrumentality that. And I don't deliberation that's necessary, because we've already held him successful contempt.'

Comer and Jordan person insisted nan audio is basal not to embarrass Biden but arsenic a measurement to cheque to cheque if nan Justice Department had edited nan transcript it had handed complete of nan question and reply that led typical counsel Robert Hur to picture Biden arsenic an 'elderly man pinch a mediocre memory.'

Last period House Republicans voted to clasp Garland successful regular contempt and nan Judiciary Committee has revenge a suit complete nan tapes.