Isn’t AG Garland supposed to be telling the truth?
During a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing on the Justice Department’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request, Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed concerns raised by Republican lawmaker Rep. Ben Cline regarding President Biden’s handling of classified documents, as outlined in special counsel Robert Hur’s report.
Garland emphasized that President Biden exhibits no impairment in his duties, countering any insinuation of incapacity. He affirmed his confidence in the president’s leadership, highlighting Biden’s effective guidance of Cabinet members and the military.
When pressed by Cline about Hur’s characterization of Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” Garland refrained from commenting directly on the characterization, citing the impropriety of the attorney general editorializing on such matters. Instead, he reiterated his trust in the president and dismissed any suggestion of impairment.
Hur’s report concluded a thorough investigation into Biden’s retention of classified documents, ultimately recommending no criminal charges against the president. Despite this, Garland remained firm in his assurance of Biden’s competence and integrity.
Switching focus, Garland also reported on significant progress in combating violent crime nationwide, citing a notable decrease in overall violent incidents, including a remarkable 13% drop in homicides compared to the previous year—the most substantial decline in over three decades. He expressed optimism that this positive trend would persist.
Regarding budgetary needs, Garland outlined the Justice Department’s request for $21 billion to support various law enforcement agencies and divisions, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s offices, and key divisions focused on criminal and national security matters. This funding, he emphasized, would be instrumental in addressing gun violence and bolstering efforts to combat both foreign and domestic terrorism.
