House Republicans, Justice Department face off over Biden audiotapes

GOP lawmakers set to defy subpoena over claims of executive privilege

House Republicans are set to defy a subpoena from the Justice Department over access to classified audiotapes of President Joe Biden’s conversations with Hunter Biden. The department is investigating whether the younger Biden engaged in criminal wrongdoing related to his overseas business dealings while his father was vice president.

The subpoena, issued last month, seeks the tapes as part of the department’s probe into whether Hunter Biden violated tax laws or engaged in money laundering. House Republicans have argued that the tapes are protected by executive privilege, which allows presidents to withhold certain information from Congress.

The Justice Department has said that the tapes are not protected by executive privilege because they were not created or received by President Biden. The department has also said that the tapes are relevant to its investigation and that it needs access to them to complete its probe.

House Republicans have vowed to defy the subpoena and have said that they will not produce the tapes. The Justice Department has said that it will consider all options to obtain the tapes, including going to court to enforce the subpoena

The standoff between House Republicans and the Justice Department is the latest in a series of clashes between the two branches of government over access to information. In recent months, House Republicans have also refused to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation into the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

The standoff over the Biden tapes is likely to continue for some time. House Republicans have shown no sign of backing down, and the Justice Department has said that it is prepared to go to court to enforce the subpoena.

The outcome of the standoff could have implications for the Justice Department’s investigation into Hunter Biden. If the department is unable to obtain the tapes, it could make it more difficult to complete its probe

The standoff could also have implications for the relationship between the Justice Department and Congress. If House Republicans continue to defy the department’s subpoenas, it could lead to a further breakdown in communication between the two branches of government.