NE Atlanta News

This week, the House Appropriations Committee convened to review the Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act. During the session, Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced an amendment aimed at reducing Attorney General Merrick Garland’s salary until he releases all records related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents.

Rep. Clyde's amendment, which passed by a voice vote, proposes to reduce Attorney General Garland's salary to $1 until all requested records — including audio files — pertaining to Special Counsel Hur's investigation are submitted to Congress. The Oversight and Judiciary Committees had issued subpoenas for these documents, but Attorney General Garland has not complied. This refusal has led House Republicans to hold him in contempt of Congress.

"If Attorney General Garland refuses to comply with legitimate congressional subpoenas, then he shouldn’t receive his taxpayer-funded salary," stated Clyde. "Americans deserve to hear the Biden-Hur tapes to validate the Special Counsel’s transcript and to gain a better understanding of the President’s mental state. Clearly, the White House and the Department of Justice are desperately trying to hide this information from the public. Yet Garland cannot disregard lawful congressional subpoenas – especially to cover up the truth about President Biden’s criminal misconduct and cognitive health. By slashing the Attorney General’s salary, Congress can employ the power of the purse to deliver transparency and accountability to the American people."

The text of Rep. Clyde's amendment is available for review.

During the markup session, Rep. Clyde elaborated on his amendment and encouraged his colleagues to support it.