U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland claimed that he would resign if President Biden asked him to direct the Justice Department to go after former President Trump.
During an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Garland responded to critics who claimed that he was attempting to undermine Trump’s chances at re-election in 2024 with the timing of DOJ investigations and indictments.
“That’s absolutely not true. Justice Department prosecutors are non-partisan, they don’t allow partisan considerations to play any role in their determinations,” Garland emphasized.
Garland named Special Counsel Jack Smith to lead the investigation into Trump, highlighting that the special counsel is not subject to the day-to-day supervision of anyone in the Justice Department.
When asked what he would do if President Biden asked him to take action regarding the Trump investigation, Garland replied, “I am sure that that will not happen, but I would not do anything in that regard. And if necessary, I would resign. But there is no sense that anything like that will happen.”
Garland maintained that he has never had to tell Biden “hands off” because “he has never tried to put hands on these investigations.”
The interview also covered the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings and taxes, with Garland stating that he is not participating in those decisions, and career prosecutor David Weiss is making them.
Garland assured that the White House is not attempting to influence these decisions.
Garland also expressed concerns about violence, especially as judges and prosecutors assigned to Trump’s cases have received death threats. He stressed the importance of refraining from violence and threats of violence in preserving democracy.
“We do not have one rule for Republicans and another rule for Democrats. We don't have one rule for foes and another for friends,” says Attorney General Merrick Garland. “We have only one rule; and that one rule is that we follow the facts and the law.” https://t.co/PtVa036DOa pic.twitter.com/6OsPzAKmId
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 1, 2023
Garland’s family’s history of fleeing religious persecution in Europe during the Holocaust influenced his dedication to public service and the rule of law, he explained.
Two of Merrick Garland’s relatives were murdered in the Holocaust. Garland says his family’s history is the reason he devoted his life to upholding the rule of law. https://t.co/60gPelcNMC pic.twitter.com/rVzqB2zBK8
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 1, 2023
He concluded by claiming that the Justice Department follows one rule for all, regardless of political affiliation, power, or ethnicity: “We have only one rule, and that one rule is to follow the facts and the law, and we reach the decisions required by the Constitution, and we protect civil liberties.”
