Biden's attorney general is pushing back against the GOP-led House's potential contempt charge.

Attorney General Merrick Garland is fighting back.

The House of Representatives plans to vote on whether to hold him in contempt of Congress this week, but it's uncertain if they have the necessary votes.

According to a senior House leadership source, the vote will take place on Wednesday. However, when asked, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was hesitant to confirm this.

Garland remained silent when I followed him down a hallway leading to a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building, even enduring an unnecessary elbow from his FBI security detail before entering an anteroom.

Did you plan on pushing back against what they're attempting to do with contempt, Garland? I inquired as we briskly walked down the corridor.

No response.

"Are you planning to retaliate against their actions with disdain?"

Silence.

"Have you felt that the process has been abused in terms of contempt?"

See above.

When the House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, gaveled down the hearing, Garland threw the verbal book at Republicans. Garland was enraged when it came to accusations that his department was biased against Republicans and had it in for former President Trump.

"Garland stated that these attacks will not affect their decision-making process. He considers contempt a grave issue and will not be intimidated. The Justice Department will also remain unintimidated and continue to work independently. They will not allow political influence to hinder their duties and will not back down from defending democracy."

The GOP has adopted "lawfare" as its strategy for dealing with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis, and Garland's Justice Department, which Republicans accuse of collaborating to target former President Trump.

Garland was bombarded with verbal haymakers from Jordan, who hoped one of them would stick.

"Jordan accused the Department of Justice of failing to address attacks on Jewish students at college campuses and its inability to identify those responsible for the January 6th pipe bombs, the leaked Dobbs draft opinion, and the alleged cocaine found in the White House. This, he claimed, highlights a double standard in the justice system, with many Americans believing that it exists."

Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., pointed out that Lady Justice's blindfold had fallen off.

But Democrats were having none of Republican conjecture about a two-tiered justice system.

Garland dismissed GOP allegations of prejudice as a "conspiracy theory."

Garland stated that an assault on the rule of law undermines people's trust in the foundation of our democracy.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., clashed with the attorney general regarding the release of "correspondence between the department and Alvin Bragg's office."

"Gaetz stated that the claim that the attack against (former President) Trump is a coordinated lawfare conspiracy theory is false. However, when he said that they would take the request and work it through the DoJ accommodation process, he was actually promoting the very dangerous conspiracy theory he was concerned about."

Democrats criticized Republicans who claimed that the fix was in favor of Hunter Biden, pointing out that the president's own Justice Department had previously prosecuted his son. Additionally, ongoing investigations involving Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Henry Cuellar, both Democrats, further undermine this argument.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., proposed that Democrats possessed tangible proof that it did not disadvantage Republicans.

"Cohen remarked to Garland, "I see that Mr. Gaetz, who was the first to take you on, is absent. Unfortunately, his absence means we can't hear his testimony about your handling of the Justice Department. He was investigated for sex trafficking, and while many expected a prosecution, you chose not to prosecute this active Republican.""

The conviction of Hunter Biden, the president's son, on firearms charges presents Democrats with an opportunity to challenge the GOP's narrative of an unjust legal system.

"When Donald Trump was acquitted, we saw an immediate reaction from Republican leaders. It was like within seconds that this trial is a sham. The judge is corrupt. The jury is rigged. And the contrast today is just staggering," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. "But when a Democrat is convicted – the president’s son, no less – that’s justice. Give me a break.""

Mike Johnson denied that the Hunter Biden conviction undermined GOP claims.

Johnson stated that every case is unique and the evidence presented in the Trump trials was overwhelming. However, he believes that the charges brought against Trump were politically motivated. He also emphasized that Hunter Biden's case is a separate incident.

Despite their narrow majority, Republicans are likely to proceed with contempt if they believe they have the votes. Meanwhile, moderates seem open to finding Garland in contempt of Congress.

"Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., stated that he believes the current administration has attempted to evade responsibility by running out the clock. He emphasized that Congress has a duty to provide checks, balances, and oversight, regardless of whether or not he agrees with the president's actions. Molinaro added that he would support a contempt vote to ensure the administration complies with its responsibilities."

"Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., stated that "he has a responsibility to comply with lawful subpoenas, but he is selectively choosing which laws he will follow.""

In 2012, the House passed a resolution to censure then-Attorney General Eric Holder for withholding documents related to the Fast and Furious investigation. The vote was 255-67, with two Republicans voting against and 17 Democrats voting in favor. However, most Democrats abstained from the vote in protest.

No Democrats are expected to join the effort this year, and the DoJ will not prosecute Garland.

While many Republicans want to address the issue of Merrick Garland's failure to cooperate with Congress, others prefer to wait until November. They argue that the Biden Justice Department's failure to prosecute Garland for this issue is hypocritical, given that it has prosecuted former Trump aides Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for failing to comply with subpoenas related to January 6.

Republicans will remind their voters of the threat they made against Garland if former President Trump returns to the White House.

"What happened to Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon when they disobeyed a Congressional subpoena? asked Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C. "Peter Navarro is now in prison.""