At his Senate hearing on Monday, Attorney General-candidate Merrick Garland pledges to prosecute “white supremacists and others” who attacked the Capitol on January 6 in support of Donald Trump’s attempt to undo his electoral defeat.
The pledge was contained in Garland’s opening statement before the Senate Judicial Committee session, released Saturday night.
“If confirmed,” said Garland, “I will oversee the prosecution of white supremacists and others who stormed the Capitol on January 6 – a horrific attack that sought to disrupt a cornerstone of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power to a new elected government. “
Five people, including a police officer, died as a direct result of the attack on the Capitol, for which Trump instructed his supporters to “fight hard” against the results of the presidential election. Trump lost to Joe Biden 306-232 in the electoral college and more than 7 million votes in the popular vote.
More than 250 participants in the Capitol riot have been charged. As NPR reported, “the defendants are predominantly white and male, although there were exceptions.
Federal prosecutors say a former member of the Latin Kings gang has joined the crowd, as have two Virginia police officers. A man in a ‘Camp Auschwitz’ sweatshirt took part, as well as a Messianic rabbi. Far-right militiamen decked out in tactical gear rioted alongside a county commissioner, a sanitation worker in New York City and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. “
In his testimony, Garland referred to his role from 1995 to 1997 in overseeing the prosecution of the perpetrators of the Oklahoma City bombing, a white supremacist atrocity that killed 168 people, including 19 children.
Trump was impeached a second time on charges of instigating an uprising, but was acquitted after only seven Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to vote for conviction, 10 less than the majority needed.
“It is an appropriate time,” said Garland, “to reaffirm that the role of the attorney general is to serve the rule of law and ensure equal justice under the law.”
The 68-year-old federal appeals judge was even denied a hearing in 2016 when Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republican Senate, blocked him as Barack Obama’s third choice on the Supreme Court.
Biden’s selection of Garland for Attorney General is seen as a conciliatory move in a capital controlled by Democrats, but only by tight margins did the Senate split 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie.
In his testimony, Garland said he would be independent from Biden, make sure he would “strictly regulate communications with the White House” and act as “the attorney … for the people of the United States.”
Trump pressured his first Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, to do his bidding, and then saw his second, William Barr, do much of this, meddling in the investigation into Russian electoral interference and ties between Trump and Moscow.
If confirmed, Garland will face sensitive decisions on matters such as Trump, who is now exposed to criminal and civil investigations, and Hunter Biden, the son of the new president whose tax matters are at stake, as he remains a target for a major part of the right.
Some on the left have expressed concern that Garland may be too politically moderate.
Black Lives Matter founder LaTosha Brown, for example, told The Guardian, “My concern is that he doesn’t have a strong civil rights history … even when Obama nominated him, one of the criticisms was that he compromised what he thought. was a ‘clean’ candidate to get through. “
In his testimony, Garland said the judicial work on civil rights needs to be improved.
“Colored communities and other minorities continue to face discrimination in housing, education, employment and criminal justice,” he said, “and worst hit by the damage caused by pandemic, pollution and climate change.”
Garland is expected to be confirmed.