Attorney General Merrick Garland, criticized by many on the right for the alleged wea ponization of the Department of Justice against conservatives and political enemies of President Biden, appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a hearing on the state of the Department of Justice and its alleged bias against the right.
As couId be predicted, the hearing was fiery and characterized much more by soundbites and expIosive allegations than AG Garland coolly or effectively shutting down the allegations, with firebr and GOP congressman Matt Gaetz leading the charge and obliterating Biden’s China stance.
Questioning AG Garland on the China situation and a potentially misplaced emphasis on North Korea, Rep. Gaetz asked, Are you saying that North Korea has the same malign influence risk to the United States as the Chinese Communist Party.
Because here’s what it looks like. It looks like the Chinese gave all this money to the Bidens and then you guys came in and got rid of the China initiative and it was successful. I saw one rationale that you guys got rid of the China initiative because it was racial profiling.
Responding, Garland argued that North Korea is a dan gerous actor, saying, There are a lot of questions that you just asked. Let me start with the first one about North Korea. North Korea is a dangerous actor, both kineti cally and with respect to cy ber.”
The two then had a contentious back and forth, with Rep. Gaetz snapping, Answer the question about whether or not you know about all the millions of dollars and AG Garland snapping back, “You don’t want me to answer about North Korea.
Rep. Gaetz fired back, noting that most peopIe know the truth about North Korea and snapping, I already know the answer, and so does everyone. They’re not the same risk as China. So let’s get on to serious questions and serious answers. Do you know about the money that moved through Rob Walker’ shell companies, yes or no?”
Garland refused to give anything approaching a real or helpful answer to the corruption question, instead telling Rep. Gaetz, As I have said repeatedly, I have Ieft these matters to Mr. Weiss. I have not intruded. I have not interfered.
