Four Republicans in the House sided with Democrats to kill a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) filed the motion on Wednesday to force the House to vote on Garland after he defied a congressional subpoena. The resolution would fine the attorney general $10,000 a day until he complied, but the measure was defeated in a 204-210 vote on Thursday.

Republican Reps. Mike Turner and David Joyce of Ohio and John Duarte and Tom McClintock of California joined Democrats to foil the “inherent contempt” resolution.

THE HOUSE just defeated the resolution to hold Merrick garland in inherent contempt.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 11, 2024

The House voted last month to hold Garland in contempt after he defied a subpoena to turn over audio of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. The Justice Department’s decision not to prosecute the attorney general led to Luna’s motion to have him held in “inherent contempt.”

“If an American is presented with a lawful subpoena, he or she is expected that they comply or face the consequences of their defiance,” Luna said. “Why should the attorney general of the United States be held to a different standard? No one is above the law.”

204-210:House defeated FL GOP Rep. Luna’s inherent contempt resolution to fine Attorney General Garland $10,000 a day for failing to comply with a subpoena to provide Special Counsel Hur’s audiotapes of President Biden’s interview.4Rs voted No: Duarte, Joyce, McClintock & Turner. pic.twitter.com/6g0klN3qqU

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) July 11, 2024

“There were members who said they didn’t support the other version. Meaning it would fail… Either way, I am literally the only person that brainstormed any accountability,” Luna said. “If you don’t like how the GOP VOTES as a whole get active, but trashing me without knowing details is exactly what the left does.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), was initially against forcing a vote this week, telling reporters on Tuesday that his “preference is to follow the legal process and legal proceedings.”

After the four GOP defectors who helped kill the motion, Luna said she was in “open dialogue” with those who voted against the resolution which did not call for Garland to be taken into custody.

I am talking to some of the members that voted “no,” and I would like it to reflect that I am in open dialogue with them. A few of them have their hearts in the right place and I will be working with them. Inherent contempt will be brought back to the floor when we return. Please…

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) July 12, 2024

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) slammed the resolution as a “B.S. political stunt.”

“Mr. Speaker, this is a stupid resolution. Republican leadership knows this is a stupid resolution. Their own members know this is a stupid resolution, but they’re beholden to the craziest MAGA members in their conference,” McGovern said. “And so this is what we get, stupid resolutions on the floor because they’re too chicken to stand up to the extremism in their own party.”

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Frieda Powers

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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