Attorney General Merrick Garland fighting back,
The Republican-led House of Representatives intends to maintain their contempt for Congress this week — if they can muster the votes. Remember, it all comes down to math.
A senior House leadership source told Fox that the vote would take place on Wednesday. But when asked, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., would not commit.
Garland was silent when your true He was chased down a corridor before a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building — even enduring an unnecessary elbow bump from his FBI security detail before he hid in an anteroom.
Social media uproar over Hunter Biden’s conviction: ‘The law is the law’
“Are you going to counter their efforts with a contempt case?” I asked Garland as we moved swiftly down the corridor.
no response.
“Will you counter his efforts with a contempt case?”
silence.
“Do you think this is an abuse of process in a contempt case?”
See above.
Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Department of Justice on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP/Jacqueline Martin)
But when the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jim JordanRep. Rep. Garland, R-Ohio, kicked off the hearing with a bookish Garland throwing the verbal book at Republicans. Garland became angry when it was implied his department had worked against former President Trump and was biased against Republicans.
“These attacks have not and will not affect our decision-making. I regard contempt as a serious matter,” Garland said. “I will not be intimidated. And the Justice Department will not be intimidated. We will continue to do our job free from political influence. And we will not back down from defending democracy.”
“Lawfare” is the GOP’s new mantra when it comes to Garland, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Fulton County Prosecutor Fanny Willis. Indeed, Republicans have accused Garland’s Justice Department of working in collusion with local officials to target Mr. Trump.
Jordan unleashed a barrage of verbal attacks on Garland, and a barrage of complaints against the attorney general in hopes that one of them would reach him.
“this is the same Department of Justice whose civil rights department has done nothing to address attacks on Jewish students on college campuses. This is the same Justice Department that can’t tell us who planted the pipe bombs on January 6. Who leaked Dobbs’ draft opinion. And who planted cocaine in the White House,” Jordan charged. “Many Americans believe there’s a double standard in our justice system now. They believe it because there is.”
Running for Congress: Pooch chases police, reporter and Senate staff around Capitol during rush hour
“They see that Lady Justice’s blindfold has come off,” said Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va.
But Democrats didn’t like any Republican speculation about a two-tiered justice system.
In fact, Garland described the Republican Party’s allegations of bias as a “conspiracy theory.”
“Assaults on the rule of law erode public confidence in the very essence of our democracy,” Garland said.
(Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, tangled with the attorney general over providing “correspondence between the department and Alvin Bragg’s office.”
“You have alleged that it is a conspiracy theory that this is a coordinated legal battle against (former President) Trump,” Gaetz said. “But when you say ‘We will grant your request and work it through the DoJ adjustment process,’ you are actually advancing the very dangerous conspiracy theory that you are concerned about.”
Democrats rebuked Republicans who argued it was all fixed. Hunter Biden — given that the president’s own Justice Department prosecuted the first son. To say nothing of ongoing lawsuits involving Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Tex.
Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, suggested Democrats have solid evidence this doesn’t tilt against Republicans.
“I notice that Mr. Gaetz, who was the first one to talk to you, is no longer here,” Cohen told Garland. “And that’s unfortunate because he is living proof of the fact and direct evidence that you have not weaponized the Department of Justice. He was investigated for sex trafficking. And while many expected a prosecution, you chose not to prosecute this very active Republican.”
Democrats certainly did not want to see Hunter Biden – the president’s son – convicted on firearms chargesBut Hunter’s conviction has given Democrats an opportunity to argue that the GOP narrative of an unequal justice system has not been proven true.
“When Donald Trump was convicted, we saw the immediate reaction from Republican leaders. Within seconds it felt like this trial is a sham. The judge is corrupt. The jury is rigged. And today’s contradiction is just staggering,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. “But when a Democrat is convicted — the president’s son, not anybody else — that’s justice. Give me a break.”
Senate Dems step up attack on Justice Alito after secret recording
Mike Johnson denies that Hunter Biden’s conviction undermines GOP claims.
“That’s not the case. Every case is different. And clearly the evidence here was overwhelming. I don’t think that’s been the case in (President) Trump’s prosecutions. And all of the allegations against him have clearly been made for political purposes. Hunter Biden is an isolated incident,” Johnson said.
If Republicans move forward with contempt, it will be because they have the votes — despite their narrow majority. Now it seems liberals are prepared to find Garland in contempt of Congress.
“I think this administration has tried to throw out deadlines and avoid responsibility,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y. “I don’t have to agree or disagree with the president to know that Congress has a responsibility to provide checks, balances and oversight. And this administration must comply, whether they like it or not. I will certainly support a contempt vote.”
“They have a responsibility to comply with lawful subpoenas,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. “They’re choosing which ones they have to comply with.”
(AP Photo/Carolyn Castor)
The House voted to convict then-Attorney General Eric Holder of contempt of Congress in 2012. House Republicans accused Holder of hiding documents related to the gun-running investigation known as Fast and Furious. The House voted 255-67 to convict Holder of criminal contempt. Two Republicans voted against. Seventeen Democrats voted yes. But most Democrats decided to abstain from voting in protest.
Don’t expect any Democrats to join the effort this year. And the Justice Department will not prosecute Garland.
Republicans know thatAnd while many want to stand up for the institution, many would prefer to let the issue drag on until November. They will point to the Biden Justice Department, which failed to prosecute Garland for not cooperating with Congress. Yet the DoJ prosecuted former Trump associates Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for not complying with subpoenas related to January 6.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Republicans will remind their voters of this. And they will be sure to threaten Garland if former President Trump returns to the White House.
“Do you know what happened to Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon when they decided to defy a congressional subpoena?” asked Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C. “Mr. Navarro is in jail.”
