Garland defends Justice Department/ DOJ political weapon/ Trump DOJ claims/ Garland speech on DOJ independence/ Newslooks/ Washington/ Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed that the Justice Department will not be used as a political tool, denouncing false claims and conspiracy theories targeting federal law enforcement. Garland’s remarks come as Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, accuse the DOJ of being politically weaponized. Garland emphasized the importance of the department’s impartiality and its commitment to treating all cases equally.
Attorney General Garland Defends DOJ’s Integrity Quick Looks:
- Garland pledges that the DOJ will not become a political weapon amid GOP criticism.
- His speech condemned conspiracy theories and attacks on federal law enforcement.
- Trump, facing multiple indictments, has accused the DOJ of being politicized.
- Garland stressed the DOJ’s impartiality, treating all cases equally regardless of politics.
Garland Vows DOJ Won’t Be Used as a Political Weapon Amid GOP Criticism
Deep Look:
Attorney General Merrick Garland made a strong defense of the Justice Department’s integrity on Thursday, addressing concerns that the department is being used as a political tool. Speaking at a gathering of U.S. attorneys and other Justice Department members in Washington, Garland pushed back against Republican claims that the DOJ has been politicized, particularly in its investigations into former President Donald Trump.
Garland emphasized that the department’s long-standing norms protect it from political interference, stating that this is critical “now more than ever.” Without mentioning Trump or Republicans directly, Garland pointed to the importance of the DOJ remaining independent and impartial. He denounced the ongoing attacks on the department, which he said have come in the form of conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and threats against law enforcement officials.
“Our norms are a promise that we will not allow this Department to be used as a political weapon,” Garland said to applause at the DOJ’s headquarters. He added, “We will not allow this nation to become a country where law enforcement is treated as an apparatus of politics.”
Garland’s remarks come as the DOJ faces heightened scrutiny. Trump, the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, has been indicted in two separate criminal cases led by special counsel Jack Smith, whom Garland appointed to oversee politically sensitive investigations. Trump and other Republicans have accused the DOJ of being weaponized against him, with Trump vowing to overhaul the department if re-elected.
The attorney general also condemned the attacks on federal law enforcement, saying they put public servants at risk of violence. Garland noted that some of these attacks come from public figures who spread dangerous conspiracy theories. “These attacks… have come in the form of conspiracy theories, dangerous falsehoods, and threats of actual violence,” he said.
The DOJ’s investigation of Trump and other politically charged cases, including the prosecution of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, have drawn significant criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Garland reiterated the department’s commitment to impartial justice, asserting that it does not “bend to politics” and will not “break under pressure.”
Garland’s statements come at a pivotal time for the DOJ as it navigates ongoing investigations and attempts to maintain its credibility amid a polarized political landscape. He insisted that the department follows the facts and applies the law equally, irrespective of an individual’s political affiliations, race, or status.
“We must treat like cases alike,” Garland said. “There is not one rule for friends and another for foes, one rule for the powerful and another for the powerless, one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans.”
Garland concluded by reaffirming the DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, protect civil liberties, and apply the Constitution in a way that serves justice.
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