AG Garland Condemns Attacks on DOJ, Emphasizes Independence Amid Trump Criticisms

Sep 12, 2024, 03:52 PM

Attorney General Merrick Garland delivered a speech to the Justice Department workforce on Thursday, Sept 12, 2024, condemning escalating attacks against the department. Garland denounced 'conspiracy theories, dangerous falsehoods, and threats of actual violence' targeting DOJ employees. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the department's independence and impartiality, stating that the DOJ will not be used as a political weapon. Garland reassured DOJ personnel that he supports them and commended their resilience in the face of baseless verbal attacks and threats. He reiterated that law enforcement must never be treated as an apparatus for politics, and vowed to protect the DOJ from improper politicization. Garland also pushed back against Republican claims of politicization and Trump criticisms.