House GOP Vows to Arrest Attorney General Garland for Subpoena Non-Compliance

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna leads a group of Republican lawmakers threatening to enforce an inherent contempt motion against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, potentially leading to his arrest.

In a bold move, House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to enforce a congressional subpoena against Attorney General Merrick Garland, potentially resulting in Garland's arrest.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has spearheaded a group of nine other House Republicans who have warned Garland that if he fails to provide tapes of Special Counsel Rob Hur's interview with President Biden to Congress, they will pursue an inherent contempt motion against him.

House GOP Vows to Arrest Attorney General Garland for Subpoena Non-Compliance

Inherent contempt differs from criminal contempt in that it grants Congress the unilateral authority to arrest and detain individuals who obstruct its legislative duties. This power is broader than criminal contempt and can be used to address actions that threaten the House's exercise of its powers.

When questioned about alternative ways to enforce the subpoena, Luna suggested that Speaker Johnson is open to discussions but emphasized the need for a swift resolution.

House GOP Vows to Arrest Attorney General Garland for Subpoena Non-Compliance

Luna expressed concerns about the erosion of public trust in government and the司法部. She argued that the refusal of Garland, as the "head enforcement officer," to comply with the subpoena is an egregious violation of the law.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, cited the potential arrest of Garland as a way to address the perceived double standards in the justice system. He highlighted the case of a Houston citizen who was arrested for exposing alleged harmful gender transition practices on minors.

House GOP Vows to Arrest Attorney General Garland for Subpoena Non-Compliance

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., noted that the House of Representatives has invoked its inherent contempt power more than 100 times since 1795. He cited the Jefferson Manual from the 118th Congress as a reference.

Luna acknowledged that Democrats considered using inherent contempt powers during the Jan. 6 committee investigations but ultimately decided against it to avoid discovery.

House GOP Vows to Arrest Attorney General Garland for Subpoena Non-Compliance

Luna pointed to the diverse group of Republicans who joined her at a press conference, representing a wide cross-section of the GOP conference.

Luna cited the Supreme Court's 1935 decision in Jurney v. MacCracken, which upheld the inherent contempt powers of Congress. The case resulted in a 10-day jail sentence for a Washington lawyer who failed to comply with a Senate subpoena.