During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland asserted that he will not succumb to intimidation amid allegations of political interference at the Justice Department.
Republican committee leaders claimed in the hearing that the Justice Department is being influenced by President Joe Biden to prosecute former President Donald Trump.
Garland stated, “I will not be intimidated. The Justice Department will remain free from political influence and will stand firm in defending our democracy.”
Trump is currently facing federal cases led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. These cases involve charges related to retaining classified information, obstructing justice, and involvement in the January 6 insurrection.
In a separate state case overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records connected to payments to Stormy Daniels.
The President
White House blocks release of Biden’s special counsel interview audio
8:42 AM, May 16, 2024
Recently, Republican members of the House panel sought to hold Garland in contempt after the Biden administration refused to release audio of the president’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The Justice Department cited concerns about the potential misuse of the audio for creating “deepfake” content and spreading disinformation.
Garland defended the Justice Department against these attacks and emphasized the importance of upholding the law. He stated, “I take contempt seriously, but I will not compromise the effectiveness of our prosecutors and agents in future investigations.”
