{"id":2284875,"date":"2024-06-27T19:16:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T23:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/contempt-charge-advanced-against-bidens-ghostwriter-2\/"},"modified":"2024-06-27T19:17:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T23:17:50","slug":"contempt-charge-advanced-against-bidens-ghostwriter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/contempt-charge-advanced-against-bidens-ghostwriter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Contempt Charge Advanced Against Biden&#8217;s Ghostwriter"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcontempt-charge-advanced-against-bidens-ghostwriter-2%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2284875&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Washington on June 27, 2024, the House Republicans moved forward with a\u2063 resolution to hold President Joe Biden&#8217;s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in contempt of Congress. Zwonitzer had allegedly refused to provide records related to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/historic-significance-of-georgia-senate-contests\/\" title=\"Historic Significance of Georgia Senate Contests\">special counsel investigation<\/a> \u2062into\u2063 Biden&#8217;s \u2064handling of classified documents. The subpoena issued by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan sought materials from Zwonitzer that were crucial for the \u2063House Judiciary Committee to understand\u2064 Biden\u2019s mishandling of classified information. This includes \u2062interviews for Biden\u2019s memoirs, which might have included classified material.<\/p>\n<p>The White House has\u200c criticized the Republicans&#8217; actions as a politicized use of government power for \u2064targeting Zwonitzer. According to the special counsel\u200c Robert Hur, although Biden was reckless\u200d with classified materials, Zwonitzer had plausible reasons\u2062 for deleting certain \u200brecordings and cooperated\u2064 with investigators, making prosecution unlikely. However, \u2064Republicans believe further investigation into Zwonitzer&#8217;s \u2062access to classified \u2063materials is necessary. This ongoing \u2062scrutiny \u200daligns\u200c with a broader political context where Biden\u2019s competency and the handling of\u200d sensitive information are significant\u2064 issues as he seeks re-election against Donald Trump. The dispute over these records also reflects a broader political battle, as\u2062 evidenced by Republican efforts to aid Trump amidst his own legal challenges regarding classified documents.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/%20\"><span>The Associated Press<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 27, 2024 at 12:21pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 House Republicans advanced a resolution Thursday that would hold President Joe Biden\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-ghostwriter-mark-zwonitzer-classified-documents-case-8ad6e560c2eb54e25db149a2d01ad545\">ghostwriter<\/a> in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over records related to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/joe-biden-beau-special-counsel-80eaaee6de62c0c7b455c03d39502ecb\">special counsel<\/a> investigation into Biden\u2019s handling of classified documents. <\/p>\n<p>The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to recommend contempt charges against Mark Zwonitzer, who worked with Biden on his two memoirs and through him was exposed to material that was deemed classified. The committee action paves the way for a possible floor vote by the House to refer Zwonitzer for criminal contempt.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the chair of the Judiciary committee, issued a subpoena to Zwonitzer in March after he had refused to voluntarily turn over documents, including audio, video and transcripts of his interviews with Biden for the 2007 book \u201cPromises to Keep\u201d and 2017\u2019s \u201cPromise Me, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cZwonitzer continues to withhold all documents and materials in his possession that are responsive to the subpoena from the Committee,\u201d the resolution states. \u201cThe materials requested from Zwonitzer are crucial for the Committee\u2019s understanding of the manner and extent of President Biden\u2019s mishandling and unlawful disclosure of classified materials, as well as Zwonitzer\u2019s use, storage and deletion of classified materials on his computer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The contempt proceedings are the latest Republican legal salvo against Biden and his family. Earlier this month, Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/garland-contempt-biden-classified-documents-justice-department-bc2fb71b225ae672eb257ee2055cfa67\">contempt<\/a> for his refusal to turn over audio from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rudy-giuliani-testified-in-trump-special-counsel-election-inquiry-for-eight-hours-report\/\" title=\"Rudy Giuliani testified for eight hours in Trump's special counsel election inquiry, per report.\">special counsel interview<\/a> with Biden. The White House had <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-robert-hur-classified-documents-justice-department-edf67af3810ab877c7c195956b49b3a6\">blocked the release of the audio<\/a> weeks earlier by invoking executive privilege. It said Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings \u201cto chop them up\u201d and use them for political purposes.<\/p>\n<p>In a letter to Jordan on Tuesday, White House counsel Ed Siskel accused Republicans of not engaging with officials to accommodate their request before targeting Zwonitzer publicly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Committee\u2019s actions are an obvious example of the very weaponization of government for political purposes that you claim to decry,\u201d Siskel said in the letter obtained by The Associated Press. \u201cPutting a private citizen in your political crosshairs and threatening him with criminal prosecution, simply because you refuse to engage with the Executive Branch, is out of bounds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republicans opened their investigation into Biden after the February report by special counsel Robert Hur said that Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-hur-garland-classified-documents-836b99fe9cbef9ba7d32602f4928efec\">was sloppy in his handling of classified material<\/a> found at his home and former office. Hur said Biden shared classified information with Zwonitzer while the two were working on Biden\u2019s second book.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/hur-special-counsel-testimony-biden\">Hur\u2019s report concluded that no criminal charges<\/a> were warranted against Biden. Prosecutors did consider charging Zwonitzer with obstruction of justice because the ghostwriter destroyed recordings of interviews he conducted with Biden while they worked on his second memoir together once he learned of the documents investigation. <\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should Zwonitzer be charged with contempt?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But Hur said Zwonitzer offered \u201cplausible, innocent reasons\u201d for having erased the recordings and cooperated with investigators, meaning the evidence against him was likely \u201cinsufficient to obtain a conviction.\u201d Investigators were also able to recover most of the deleted recordings from Zwonitzer\u2019s laptop.<\/p>\n<p>But Republicans maintain that further review of Zwonitzer\u2019s access to classified materials is warranted to determine if legislative reforms need to be put in place for the storage, handling and disclosure of sensitive documents by members of the Executive Branch. Prolonging the investigation also keeps attention on parts of Hur\u2019s report that were politically damaging to Biden as he seeks re-election against former President Donald Trump in November. <\/p>\n<p>Beyond the bitingly critical assessment of Biden\u2019s handling of sensitive government records, Hur offered unflattering characterizations of the president\u2019s memory in his report, sparking fresh <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/biden-memory-age-special-counsel-report-doj-f4232bc8316e556ed467185b67c3e0a8\">questions about his competency and age<\/a> that cut at voters\u2019 most deep-seated concerns about Biden seeking a second term. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need the audio recordings and the transcripts,\u201d Jordan said during the hearing Thursday. \u201cPut simply, they are the best evidence of the president\u2019s mental state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Democrats on the Judiciary committee called the contempt proceeding \u201can abuse of the committee\u2019s oversight authority,\u201d and the latest ploy by Republicans to defend Trump as he faces his own federal investigation for retaining classified documents at his Florida club after he left the White House.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re here today because there\u2019s a presidential debate tonight and MAGA Republicans have decided the best way they can help President Trump is by bullying and intimidating a private citizen to obtain information about his highly sensitive and deeply personal conversations with President Biden,\u201d Rep. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the committee, said in his opening statement. <\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cWe\u2019re here today because Republicans are, in a word, desperate.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>While both Biden and Trump have been investigated for their handling of classified materials, there are major differences. <\/p>\n<p>Biden\u2019s team returned the documents after they were discovered, and the president cooperated with the investigation by voluntarily sitting for an interview and consenting to searches of his homes. <\/p>\n<p>Trump, by contrast, is facing criminal charges related to classified materials. He is accused of enlisting the help of aides and lawyers to conceal the documents from the government and of seeking to have <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-classified-documents-justice-department-special-counsel-2025feb3f0f4e3820d14387c67ce4316\">potentially incriminating evidence<\/a> destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harrison-ford-announces-end-of-iconic-character-i-need-to-sit-down-and-rest-a-little-bit\/\" title=\"Harrison Ford retires iconic character, needs rest.\">normal editorial standards<\/a>. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-44902\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/ap-reports\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44902\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44902\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44902\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44902\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Associated Press is an independent, not-for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-case-involving-trump-17-house-democrats-and-the-biden-administration\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case Involving Trump, 17 House Democrats, and the Biden Administration\">-profit news cooperative headquartered<\/a> in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world\u2019s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Republicans pushed forward a resolution to hold President Joe Biden&#8217;s ghostwriter in contempt of Congress for not providing records for the investigation into Biden&#8217;s management of classified documents. The House Judiciary Committee&#8217;s vote was strictly partisan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2284876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/19ba0e067b024a66a46293c38166341e-scaled-e1719518886471.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3620,33114,33115,33116,33117],"class_list":["post-2284875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden","tag-contempt-charge","tag-ghostwriter","tag-legal-trouble","tag-political-scandal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/19ba0e067b024a66a46293c38166341e-scaled-e1719518886471.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2284875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2284875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2284876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2284875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2284875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2284875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}