Garland to deny claims of FBI assassination plot against Trump and DOJ involvement in NY case
Attorney General Merrick Garland is set to address the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning, responding to claims that the FBI planned to assassinate former President Trump during a search of Mar-a-Lago. He will also address allegations that the Justice Department was involved in the New York hush money case against the former president.
Garland will push back on the committee’s efforts to hold him in contempt, denouncing the measure as an attempt to obtain sensitive law enforcement information without a legitimate purpose. In his testimony, Garland plans to emphasize the Department’s accomplishments under his tenure, such as decreasing homicide rates, prosecuting hate crimes, and combating international terrorism.
Last month, Trump falsely claimed that Biden’s DOJ authorized the FBI to use deadly force during the 2022 search at Mar-a-Lago. However, the authorization cited by Trump’s legal team is standard language used by the DOJ for years and was also used during a search of President Biden’s home.
Special Counsel Jack Smith pointed out that Trump’s team omitted key language from the DOJ document, leading to the false accusations. Smith emphasized that deadly force is only authorized in cases where there is an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury.
Garland will also address Republicans’ claims that the DOJ had a role in the New York hush money case against Trump. He will clarify that the case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, making it a state, not federal, case. Garland will condemn the conspiracy theory that suggests the DOJ influenced the jury verdict in the case.
He will highlight the unjust attacks on the Justice Department’s work, stating that career agents and prosecutors have faced threats for simply doing their jobs. Garland asserts that these attacks, though unprecedented and unfounded, will not influence the Department’s decision-making.
Garland emphasizes that while he takes the contempt measure seriously, he will not allow it to hinder the Department’s ability to conduct effective investigations in the future. He reiterates his commitment to upholding the rule of law and defends the Department’s independence from political influence.
As Garland prepares to address the House Judiciary Committee, he stands firm in his resolve to protect the integrity of the Justice Department and continue its crucial work in upholding justice and defending democracy.
