In a recent Washington Post op-ed, Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed concern over the escalating attacks on the Justice Department, labeling them as “baseless, personal, and dangerous.” Garland emphasized that these attacks pose a significant threat to democracy and the safety of public servants who risk their lives daily.
Garland’s strong defense of the Justice Department comes in response to unfounded accusations and conspiracy theories, particularly from Republicans, about the agency’s alleged bias against former President Donald Trump. Garland reiterated that the department operates based on facts and law, without regard to political affiliations or personal characteristics.
The House Rules Committee is set to convene later on Tuesday to discuss potential contempt charges against Garland for his refusal to release audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The interview was part of an investigation into Biden’s handling of classified information, which ultimately did not result in any charges being filed.
Despite GOP lawmakers’ demands for the release of the audio recordings, Garland has maintained that providing transcripts of the interview serves as a sufficient response to their inquiries. The DOJ argues that the privacy concerns surrounding an audio recording differ from those of a written transcript and could potentially hinder future cooperation from witnesses in criminal investigations.
In a separate development, CNN has filed a lawsuit seeking access to the recordings of federal investigators’ interview with Biden during the closed probe of his handling of classified documents.
