Attorney General Merrick Garland to Address Accusations of Political Bias in House Judiciary Committee Hearing
Attorney General Merrick Garland is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to strongly refute allegations of political bias within the Justice Department. Excerpts of his prepared testimony reveal that he plans to emphasize the independence of the department and its commitment to pursuing justice without fear or favor.
Garland will assert that he is not President Biden’s personal lawyer or Congress’s prosecutor, emphasizing that the Justice Department is accountable to the American people. He will stress that their role is to conduct investigations and pursue justice based on the law, rather than catering to political convenience or taking orders from the President or Congress. His statement comes as Democrats criticize the department for not being aggressive enough in investigating former President Donald Trump, while Republicans accuse Garland of failing to protect the department from politicization.
Republicans on the panel are expected to use the hearing as an opportunity to question Garland about the investigation into Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, as well as recent indictments against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith. However, Garland is unlikely to provide substantial details regarding these ongoing investigations.
In his testimony, Garland will express the department’s willingness to face public scrutiny and legitimate oversight. However, he will caution against targeting individual career public servants who are simply doing their jobs, highlighting the dangers posed by such actions, especially given the increased threats to the safety of public servants and their families.
Garland will conclude his prepared remarks by asserting that the Justice Department will not be intimidated and will continue to carry out its duties without outside interference. He emphasizes the department’s commitment to defending democracy.
The House Judiciary Committee hearing is expected to foreshadow the upcoming impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Republicans have been investigating allegations related to Hunter Biden’s business dealings, although no evidence of direct involvement by the President has been uncovered thus far. The committee has also been looking into claims from an IRS whistleblower that the investigation into Hunter Biden was politically biased.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has initiated an investigation into Hunter Biden’s former plea deal and has requested testimony from US Attorney-turned special counsel David Weiss. The plea agreement, which would have allowed Hunter Biden to plead guilty to tax charges and potentially avoid jail time, fell apart amid scrutiny from a federal judge. Weiss requested special counsel status from Garland and subsequently indicted Hunter Biden on gun charges.
In addition to the Hunter Biden investigation, Jordan has also initiated investigations into special counsel Jack Smith’s probes of former President Trump. Jordan has proposed budget cuts to the FBI and DOJ as a response to these investigations. Some House Republicans, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have previously suggested impeaching Attorney General Garland, although attention has shifted towards impeaching President Biden.
Wednesday’s hearing is expected to be contentious and highlight the deep partisan divisions within the committee. It will provide a platform for both Democrats and Republicans to present their arguments regarding the alleged politicization of the Justice Department and potentially shape the path of future investigations and impeachment inquiries.