Additional Coverage:
- Attorney General Merrick Garland to denounce ‘dangerous’ and ‘outrageous’ attacks on DOJ prosecutors and personnel (nbcnews.com)
In a passionate and forceful speech on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the “dangerous” and “outrageous” attacks on Justice Department officials. While Garland didn’t name former President Donald Trump directly, his remarks seemed directed at the accusations and threats Trump and his supporters have leveled against DOJ personnel.
Garland expressed gratitude to DOJ employees for their continued dedication amid escalating attacks over the past three-and-a-half years. He highlighted that these attacks often involve conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and threats of violence, aiming to intimidate those upholding the rule of law.
“It’s both dangerous and outrageous that you’ve had to face such adversity just for doing your jobs,” Garland said, receiving heavy applause when he emphasized that DOJ public servants do not succumb to political pressures.
A central theme of Garland’s address was the equal treatment of all Americans under the law: “There is not one rule for friends, another for foes; not one for the powerful, another for the powerless; not one for the rich, another for the poor; nor different rules based on political affiliations or race.”
Garland assured that the DOJ would remain independent from political interference and would not be used as a political tool. He outlined various measures already implemented to safeguard the DOJ’s integrity, such as policies governing communications between DOJ employees, Congress, and the White House, as well as new guidelines for sensitive FBI investigations.
“You deserve better than these attacks,” Garland added, committing to defending the DOJ and its dedicated workforce. Since leaving office in 2021, Trump has repeatedly criticized the DOJ, accusing it of targeting him to prevent his re-election. Trump has made derogatory comments about DOJ officials and threatened prosecutors, leading judges to issue gag orders against him in various cases.
Trump and his campaign did not respond immediately to requests for comment on Garland’s speech. However, Trump’s social media posts have included threats to prosecute those he perceives as targeting him once he returns to office.
During the New York hush money trial earlier this year—brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, not a federal case—Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump has also proposed reinstating “Schedule F” to make it easier to remove federal employees, aiming to overhaul federal agencies and eliminate “corrupt actors.”
Recently, Trump reiterated his intention to prosecute those he believes have wronged him, promising severe legal consequences to anyone involved in alleged wrongdoing once he wins the election.