Wow. Just wow.
It’s difficult to recall a Senate hearing more contentious, with more vitriol than the one held on Tuesday with Attorney General Merrick Garland on the hot seat.
One by one Senate Republicans wrecked Garland, calling the AG out for his conduct in the Justice Department. Whether it be a recent memo referring to disgruntled parents as “domestic terrorists,” or the reversal of a Trump-era decision to fire former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Garland received the lashing of his career.
Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton kicked off the Garland roast session by questioning the AG on why he approved an FBI probe into labeling parents “domestic terrorists” after protests erupted against brainwashing children with Critical Race Theory.
Garland persisted, replying to Sen. Cotton’s questions with non-answers and obfuscations.
And let’s just say Sen. Cotton wasn’t happy about it.
“Thank God you are not on the Supreme Court,” Cotton told Garland, who failed to reach the highest court after being nominated.
Cotton gave the knockout blow: “You should resign in disgrace, judge.”
WATCH: Senator @TomCottonAR calls Attorney General Merrick Garland's response to the National School Boards Association letter targeting concerned parents "shameful." pic.twitter.com/3SMdnpTEM7
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 27, 2021
On Friday, the National School Board Association (NSBA) apologized for slapping the label of “domestic terrorist” on parents concerned about their children becoming indoctrinated with far-Left racist theories.
However, Garland refused to retract his DOJ memo, which was initially spurred by the NSBA.
“There was no justification for some of the language included in the letter,” the apology read.
Breaking: In the wake of yesterday's @FreeBeacon report, National School Board Association announces "we regret and apologize for the letter" to Biden admin characterizing concerned parents as potentially domestic terrorists pic.twitter.com/3RBufvWqAN
— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) October 23, 2021
During the hearing, Garland denied he would resolve the FBI’s investigation into parents, even though he approved the probe based on faulty information in the NSBA letter, which the school board group later apologized for.
Garland refused to acknowledge the potency of his DOJ memo and wouldn’t answer whether he considered the consequences of labeling concerned parents as “domestic terrorists.”
But, as every attorney does, Garland swerved around the sentiment of the questions, parroting the claim that his memo does not deal with speech, which is protected under the First Amendment. The AG claimed his memo was directed at parents who enact violence or threaten it.
But why a special memo for assault? No matter who commits assault, it’s a violent crime that should be prosecuted. Is every assailant then a domestic terrorist?
WATCH: Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland refuses to answer if he's considered the "chilling effect" of the Department of Justice's memo targeting concerned parents. pic.twitter.com/uabZH6sDgh
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 27, 2021
“We are only trying to prevent violence against school officials.” Garland attempted.
If you want to prevent violence in schools, why not employ trained police officers to patrol schools and school board meetings? Well, that would simply go against the Democrats’ far-left, anti-police messaging. Instead liberals prefer to intimidate concerned parents by lobbying the DOJ and FBI to take action against them.
Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley threw his hat in the ring and demanded Garland’s immediate resignation, saying:
“It was a dangerous abuse of authority that has badly compromised the Justice Dept’s integrity and Garland’s. He should resign.”
Sen. @HawleyMO to Merrick Garland: "You have weaponized the FBI and the Department of Justice" against innocent parents, "and I call on you to resign." pic.twitter.com/lwlAAQLHjg
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) October 27, 2021
As contentious as this hearing was, it will take persistence and pressure from these GOP lawmakers if they seek retribution for concerned parents. Garland must be resign, but with the entirety of the D.C. swamp behind him, including its leader Joe Biden, it will be an uphill battle before consequences are had.
Author: Sebastian Hayworth
