United States Attorney General Merrick Garland released a new memo this week that all but guarantees the January 6th Select Committee will not get to pursue former President Trump over the riots.
The directive from America’s top law enforcement official, titled “Election Year Sensitivities”, ordered the DOJ to continue following a directive from Trump’s own Attorney General Bill Barr instructing department officials to avoid “partisan politics” in decisions regarding investigations and criminal charges.
“Department employees must also adhere to the additional requirements issued by the Attorney General on February 5, 2020, governing the opening of criminal and counterintelligence investigations by the Department, including its law enforcement agencies, related to politically sensitive individuals and entities,” the memo states.
The memo, which was signed by AG Garland himself, was released as the January 6th Select Committee continues their public hearings of Trump officials and other Trump-adjacent individuals in and around the riot at the Capitol.
While the committee initially promised to pursue criminal charges, the various members involved have more recently suggested that they would simply collect evidence for the Department of Justice and leave the ultimate decision of pursuing charges up to Merrick Garland and his team. The new instructions from the AG all but guarantees that charges will not be brought in relation to the riots.
The news is certain to be welcomed by former-President Trump, who is currently deciding on when to announce his 2024 presidential bid.
Liberals on Twitter were fuming over the announcement.
Just on Maddow – Merric Garland adopting Bill Barr’s memo that DOJ NOT allowed to investigate presidential candidate! WTF??!!🤬😥
— Willie (@Willie87946606) July 19, 2022
Again President Biden
— TD&H (@Brad13Jerry) July 19, 2022
Merric Garland is the worst mistake you've made.
I hope MERRIC GARLAND Finds it With in his brain to prosecute trump and all his goons. I know AG would rather be on the Supreme Court where he BELONGS. His personality is very conducive for the SC.I think he’s been pushed aside and being AG really is not in his comfort zone.
— Mari page (@Maripage20) July 15, 2022
The United States DOJ has long maintained a stance of neutrality in politics, leading them to avoid charging American politicians with crimes in most situations. Do you think Merrick Garland made the right decision to kill any investigations before they even start or should they have moved forward with the J6 Committee’s requests anyways?