DOJ says it won't prosecute Garland after House contempt vote

The Justice Department on Friday said it would not prosecute U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for contempt of Congress when he refused to overturn audio recordings of President Joe Biden's interview regarding classified documents. 

The department said Garland's actions “did not constitute a crime," according to The Associated Press.

Earlier this week, the GOP-led House voted to pass a resolution to hold Garland in contempt in a 216–207 vote. 

The contempt resolution is focused on Garland's refusal to turn over an audio recording of President Biden's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden's handling of classified documents. 

Biden has invoked executive privilege to prevent the recording from being released.