Garland defends DOJ from GOP accusations

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – House Republicans grilled Attorney General Merrick Garland Tuesday over what they say is the weaponization of the Justice Department.

“I will not be intimidated, and the Justice Department will not be intimidated,” Garland told the House Judiciary Committee.

That was Attorney General Merrick Garland’s message to House Republicans who accuse the Justice Department of targeting former president Donald Trump.

“For the first time in American history, we do have a presidential administration that’s working to put its opponent in jail,” Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said.

The Attorney General pushed back, saying the DOJ had nothing to do with Trump’s conviction in New York state court, calling the allegations dangerous.

“It raises the threats of violence against prosecutors and career agents,” Garland said.

Republicans also railed against the DOJ’s refusal to turn over audio recordings of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden.

The transcript from the classified documents case is already public.

“Substantively the transcript may be accurate, but you know what, the audio would tell us so much more,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said.

Garland said releasing the audio would have a chilling effect on “future investigations”.

Democrats also defended the DOJ against accusations of politicization, pointing to the federal Hunter Biden trial.

“These Republicans don’t care about what’s in the interest of the American people. They just care about getting their favorite felon back in the White House,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said.

They say this hearing isn’t really about oversight of the Justice Department, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says it is.

“The stakes are too high, and because people are losing faith in our institutions, and that at the end of the day is something that should concern every single one of us,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Congress will soon take steps to restore that faith.

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