(NewsNation) — Attorney General Merrick Garland is forcefully rebuking what he calls “unfounded” attacks on the U.S. Department of Justice.
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Garland defended the DOJ, arguing GOP attacks on the department threaten both the safety of its employees and democracy itself.
“Disagreements about politics are good for our democracy. They are normal. But using conspiracy theories, falsehoods, violence and threats of violence to affect political outcomes is not normal. The short-term political benefits of those tactics will never make up for the long-term cost to our country,” Garland wrote.
Garland emphasized that the attacks on the DOJ, which have led to threats against employees, are a safety concern. He cited recent incidents, such as a bomb threat at an FBI field office.
“In recent weeks, we have seen an escalation of attacks that go far beyond public scrutiny, criticism, and legitimate and necessary oversight of our work. They are baseless, personal and dangerous,” he wrote.
Despite the DOJ’s lack of involvement in state-level cases, the House Judiciary Committee has implied the agency had a role in the New York hush money trial where former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts.
Garland called the idea a conspiracy theory, emphasizing that the case was solely handled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Additionally, he criticized House GOP investigators for repeatedly targeting career DOJ officials, labeling it as “efforts to bully and intimidate our career public servants.”
Republicans have consistently criticized what they perceive as a “two-tiered” justice system within the DOJ, referencing disparities in penalties often affecting people of color or those with limited resources.
The Hill contributed to this report.
