Essentially the most political legal professional common in American historical past has insisted he solely ever needed to pursue justice.
Merrick Garland, who worked tirelessly to harass, persecute and finally imprison Donald Trump and his supporters, stated in a farewell speech in entrance of staffers.
“It’s the obligation of every of us to observe our norms, not solely when it’s straightforward, but in addition when it’s exhausting, particularly when it’s exhausting,” Garland declared.
“It’s the obligation of every of us to stick to our norms, even when and particularly when the circumstances we face should not regular.”
In line with Politico, which obtained a transcript of his remarks, Garland turned “emotional” through the 15-minute speech, which was held on the Nice Corridor within the Division of Justice.
Garland went on to boast about how the division had charged over 1,500 protesters concerned within the January sixth protests, but insisted that he was solely ever motivated by “justice” somewhat than the political calls for of the Biden White Home.
He continued:
You charged greater than 1,500 individuals for prison conduct that occurred through the January 6 assault on the Capitol, in addition to within the days and weeks main as much as that assault, you dropped at justice those that kicked, punched, beat and tased regulation enforcement officers who had been defending the capitol that day.
You pursued accountability for that assault on our democracy wherever it led, guided solely by your dedication to following the information and the regulation.
…
The story that has been informed by some exterior of this constructing about what has occurred inside it’s flawed. You’ve got labored to pursue justice, not politics.
That’s the reality, and nothing can change it. I do know that quite a bit is being requested of you proper now. All I ask is that you just bear in mind who you’re and why you got here to work right here within the first place.”
Whereas Garland is aware of that his corruption and political vendettas can be undone by his substitute Pam Bondi and the incoming Trump administration, he’s presumably hoping that his lackeys will keep on their mission from contained in the division.
Final month, The Washington Publish reported that Garland was “encouraging profession staffers to stay of their jobs by the following administration, stressing that institutional data is essential as a brand new leaders take maintain.”
“You’ll proceed within the division’s mission, what has at all times been its mission: to uphold the rule of regulation, to maintain our nation protected and to guard civil rights,” Garland stated throughout a speech final month.
“You — the profession legal professionals of this district, the profession legal professionals of all of the U.S. legal professional’s places of work, the profession legal professionals of the Justice Division as an entire — you’re the institutional spine of this division.”
Nonetheless, a few of these people might themselves be dealing with the hammer of justice.
Again in November, it was reported that many legal professionals on the DOJ had been hiring themselves prison protection attorneys in anticipation of Trump’s return to the White Home and that many had “wept” following his landslide victory over Kamala Harris.