The Department of Justice picked apart the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee for holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt, adding it is prepared to negotiate a deal to produce subpoenaed documents — if the contempt resolution is dropped.
But CNN reported late Tuesday that House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., had rejected the offer, and would stick with next week's planned contempt vote.
Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd signed the letter, which was dated Tuesday and addressed to Rep. Nadler. Axios and other outlets published the letter.
"The department was disappointed by the committee's abrupt termination of ongoing negotiations aimed at reaching a reasonable accommodation that respects both sides' legitimate interests regarding the materials sought," Boyd wrote. "Further, the department is disappointed by news reports indicating that Democratic leaders have scheduled a contempt vote in the House of Representatives for June 11, 2019."
The House Judiciary Committee voted last month to hold Barr in contempt after he refused to provide the panel with an unredacted copy of the Mueller report.
In his letter, Boyd said the DOJ was in negotiations with the committee when the contempt vote was taken, which he said was uncalled for because the subpoena was too broad.
"In your May 24, 2019, letter, the committee appears to recognize that the subpoena is unworkably overbroad and offers — for the first time — to narrow the subpoena's scope to cover a much more limited set of documents," Boyd wrote. "The department believes that the committee's new offer reflects a more reasonable request and could mitigate some of the legal barriers to disclosure that we have discussed."
He closed by writing, "We look forward to your confirmation that the contempt resolution has been withdrawn and, following such confirmation, in returning to our efforts to accommodate the committee."
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