Republicans were also angered by Zwonitzer’s deletion of his interview recordings with Biden after learning about the special counsel’s investigation. Although Hur considered charging Zwonitzer with obstruction of justice, he stated in his report, “We believe the evidence would be insufficient to obtain a conviction.”
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., the committee’s top Democrat, criticized the Republicans’ actions. “This contempt resolution against Mr. Zwonitzer is an abuse of the committee’s oversight authority, pure and simple,” he said.
Biden Ghostwriter trial : Letters and Legal Disputes
In a letter to Jordan on Wednesday, White House Counsel Ed Siskel condemned the contempt effort as a political stunt. “With respect to the material you seek from Mr. Zwonitzer, there are significant Executive Branch interests at stake,” Siskel wrote. He argued that Zwonitzer was not in a position to adjudicate those interests and urged Jordan to engage with the Executive Branch instead.
Siskel reiterated this stance in another letter to Zwonitzer’s attorney, emphasizing the constitutional issues involved and advising the committee to resolve the dispute through the longstanding accommodation process.
Amendment and Report
The committee passed an amendment, also along party lines, to outline their disagreement with the White House’s arguments. Hur’s report noted that Biden “willfully retained and disclosed” classified documents after his vice presidency, some of which were shared with Zwonitzer. However, Hur declined to prosecute Biden.
