President Biden says he thinks those who refuse to comply with subpoenas from the January 6 select committee should be prosecuted by the Department of Justice.
Biden made the comment on the White House lawn on Friday before boarding Marine One after being asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins what his message was to those who were defying subpoenas from the committee.
'I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable,' Biden answered.
When Collins asked if they should be prosecuted by the DOJ, Biden responded 'I do, yes.'
The committee plans to vote on Tuesday on adopting a contempt of Congress report against Steve Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump who has not complied with the committee's subpoena.
If the committee approves the contempt case against Bannon, it would go to a full House vote. From there, the Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland would decide whether to pursue prosecution.
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Biden said he hoped the committee goes after anyone who defied subpoenas and when asked if they should be prosecuted by the DOJ, Biden said 'I do, yes.'
On Monday Biden said he wouldn't stand in the way of Congress seeking sensitive information on Trump and his aides during January 6
In response to Biden's remarks on Friday, a Justice Department spokesperson told ABC News that the department 'will make its own independent decisions in all prosecutions based solely on the facts and the law.'
Biden's comments come a few days after he said he wouldn't stand in the way of Congress seeking sensitive information on Trump and his aides during January 6.
The decision is a break from the tradition of allowing past presidents to exercise privacy over their in-office records and is likely among the first steps in a lengthy legal battle when Trump challenges his assertions in court.
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