Attorney General Merrick Garland Defends DOJ During House Testimony

United States Attorney General Merrick Garland testified before the House Judiciary Committee, facing questions about the Justice Department’s investigations into Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, and more.

Details: The roughly six-hour hearing contained numerous charged moments where Republican committee members pressed Garland over the department’s handling of investigations into the president’s son and former President Donald Trump. Garland frequently declined to answer committee member’s questions, citing department policy to not comment on ongoing investigations. This frustrated Republican committee members, who have previously accused the DOJ of creating a “two-tiered justice system” that favors Democratic Party members.

Key Quotes: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), a frequent critic of the Justice Department, accused Garland of politicizing the DOJ, stating, “There’s one investigation protecting President Biden, and there’s another one attacking President Trump. The Justice Department’s got both sides of the equation covered.” Garland repeatedly rebuked these claims, at one point stating, “I am not the president’s lawyer. I will also add I am not Congress’s prosecutor,” and later stating, “The Justice Department treats everyone alike, regardless of party.”

How the Media Covered It: In coverage from The New York Times (Lean Left bias), Garland was portrayed as a “soft-spoken” prosecutor adopting a “more aggressive approach” as he faced off against a committee “stocked with far-right Trump stalwarts.” The Washington Times (Lean Right bias) reported that Garland “stumbled over questions” and “dodged questions” regarding his involvement in the Hunter Biden investigation.