Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he “will not be intimidated” and has pushed back on the “extremely dangerous” Republican claims targeted the Department of Justice.
These comments from Garland come as the Attorney General appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Garland Appears Before the House
On Tuesday, Garland appeared before the House to answer questions from lawmakers. Many Republican Representatives attacked Garland over his holding of records from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation on President Joe Biden.
Hur’s investigation — which found that Biden would face no charges — revolved around Biden’s mishandling of classified documents after he was vice president.
Holding Garland in Contempt
Many House conservatives threatened to hold Garland in contempt for his refusal to give up records from this investigation, even after they’ve subpoenaed them.
However, Garland has claimed that they have no real purpose for asking for these sensitive documents — documents that could reveal law enforcement information and tactics, which he doesn’t want to happen.
Keeping the DOJ’s Integrity
In his opening statements during this hearing, Garland explained that he wants to keep the Justice Department’s integrity intact.
“Certain members of this Committee and the Oversight Committee are seeking contempt as a means of obtaining — for no legitimate purpose — sensitive law enforcement information that could harm the integrity of future investigations,” Garland stated. “This effort is only the most recent in a long line of attacks on the Justice Department’s work.”
The DOJ’s Interactions With Alvin Bragg
Many Republicans in the House also took time to ask Garland about whether the Department of Justice had any interactions with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Bragg led the recent investigation against former President Donald Trump, which just last week ended in a jury convicting Trump on 34 different felony counts.
Fueling an Incorrect Theory
This line of questioning occurred thanks to the former president, as well as many Republican Congress members, stating that the DOJ pushed Bragg to bring this case to trial, all to help current President Joe Biden win the election.
There is no evidence to show that any of this type of interaction between the DOJ and Bragg’s office occurred.
Garland Explains What the House Can Do
After Republican Representative Matt Gaetz questioned Garland on whether this interaction took place, Garland explained that Bragg’s office is independent of the DOJ.
Therefore, if Congress wanted to request whether there has been any correspondence, they should refer to the Office of Legislative Affairs.
Garland Blasts Conspiracy Theories
Throughout the hearing, Garland repeatedly denied that the Department of Justice had any interaction with Bragg’s investigation into the former president.
Garland even stated that this incorrect allegation is a “conspiracy theory” and that it’s “an attack on the judicial process itself.”
Dangerous Rhetoric About the FBI
Garland also explained that the rhetoric from House Republicans about the FBI and how they conducted their search at Mar-a-Lago is “extremely dangerous.”
These comments came in response to conspiracy theories that were spread by Trump and his supporters that President Biden authorized the DOJ to use deadly force when the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home in August of 2022.
Threats Against the FBI
According to Garland, these theories could potentially lead to the FBI dealing with more threats against them, simply because they’re trying to do their job.
“This is dangerous. It raises the threats of violence against prosecutors and career agents,” Garland said. “The allegation is false, as the FBI has explained, the document that’s being discussed is our standard use of force protocol, which is a limitation on the use of force, and which is routinely part of the package for search warrants, and was part of the package for the search of President Biden’s home as well.”
Garland Stands His Ground
The Attorney General also defended himself and the entire DOJ against these many allegations from Republican lawmakers.
“I view contempt as a serious matter. But I will not jeopardize the ability of our prosecutors and agents to do their jobs effectively in future investigations,” Garland said. “I will not be intimidated. And the Justice Department will not be intimidated. We will continue to do our jobs free from political influence. And we will not back down from defending our democracy.”
Protecting Career Employees
During one moment, Garland appeared to be visibly emotional as he answered a question from Democratic Representative Madeleine Dean. Dean asked him if he was worried that the Justice Department was under attack, thanks to these conspiracies.
Garland explained that he will always protect his team and his employees, particularly the career employees in his department who are simply trying to do the right thing.
