“We Will Not Be Intimidated by These Attacks” Merrick Garland Defends DOJ Amidst GOP Criticism
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Legal analysts and former prosecutors rallied in support of Attorney General Merrick Garland after his forceful rebuttal to Republican attacks on the Department of Justice. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Garland criticized the Republican Party’s claims that the DOJ is merely a partisan tool of the Democratic campaign.
Garland’s essay took a firm stance against the narrative being pushed by the GOP and its presumptive presidential nominee. In it, he emphasized the importance of political debate while denouncing the use of conspiracy theories and threats of violence. “Disagreements about politics are good for our democracy,” Garland wrote. “They are normal. But using conspiracy theories, falsehoods, violence, and threats of violence to affect political outcomes is not normal.”
NBC justice reporter Ryan Reilly highlighted this key excerpt on social media, sparking widespread agreement among legal experts. Andrew Weissmann, a former top prosecutor on Robert Mueller’s team, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Whoa, right on.”
Joyce Vance, another former federal prosecutor, pointed to a different part of Garland’s op-ed that condemned the vilification of DOJ employees, including special counsel Jack Smith, who have faced threats requiring increased security. “We will not be intimidated by these attacks,” Garland asserted. “But it is absurd and dangerous that public servants, many of whom risk their lives every day, are being threatened for simply doing their jobs and adhering to the principles that have long guided” the DOJ.
Former acting solicitor general Neal Katyal praised Garland’s stance, tweeting, “Very glad AG Garland has said this. The Justice Department and its lawyers are a critical institution for the preservation of our safety and our democracy.”
Despite this support, Garland’s critics remain vocal. Former prosecutor Shan Wu questioned Garland’s actions in the face of these attacks. Critics argue that Garland has not been assertive enough in prosecuting those responsible for undermining democracy. Jack Hopkins, a podcast host and former Republican, expressed frustration: “If Merrick Garland was doing his f–king job…some of these scum bags we had to watch wickedly attacking Dr. Fauci today would already have been indicted.”
Pam Keith, CEO of the Center for Employment Justice, also criticized Garland, saying he was supposed to be a “guardrail of democracy” but has allowed coup plotters to remain free and in Congress. “Was defending our democracy not in the job duties?” she asked.
The op-ed was published just before the House Rules Committee’s expected passage of a contempt resolution against Garland. The House Judiciary Committee has also released a video urging colleagues to support the contempt vote.
In response to a letter from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) regarding the contempt matter,Garland’s assistant attorney general clarified that the DOJ had conducted a thorough search for communications between DOJ officials and the District Attorney’s office regarding any investigation or prosecution of the former President. “We found none,” the letter stated, emphasizing the independence of the District Attorney’s office from the DOJ. As the debate continues, Garland’s strong defense of the DOJ underscores the high stakes in preserving the integrity and independence of America’s legal institutions.
