Attorney General Merrick Garland declared any critique against the Justice Department (DOJ) as an affront on democracy, amid recent accusations of bias in handling the tax an firearms charges related to President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
READ: Garland Denies Allegations of Interference with Hunter Biden Probe
This came in response to allegations from IRS whistleblowers, who claimed Garland and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel had lied to Congress regarding the scope of interference in the Hunter Biden investigation.
Garland fervently defended the integrity of the DOJ during a press briefing on Friday. He stated, “I certainly understand that some have chosen to attack the integrity of the Justice Department, its components and its employees by claiming that we do not treat, like cases alike,” and added, “This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy and essential to the safety of the American people. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley revealed in a May 26 interview with congressional investigators that a DOJ prosecutor blocked a search warrant for the home of then-former Vice President Joe Biden, due to “optics.” He also alleged the FBI provided advance warning to Biden’s attorneys regarding planned enforcement actions.
READ: IRS Whistleblower: Hunter Biden May Have Violated Sex-Trafficking Laws
Many, including Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, 2024 Republican presidential candidates, and legal experts, condemned the plea agreement which only addressed misdemeanor charges for Biden, dubbing it a “sweetheart deal.”
One strong critic of Garland’s actions was Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who told Fox News, “I’m ready for Merrick Garland to go.” Comer voiced his frustrations, putting the potential impeachment decision in the hands of Speaker McCarthy and Jim Jordan.
READ: IRS Whistleblowers Reveal Ten Bombshells from Hunter Biden Testimony
Despite the allegations, Garland remained defiant, asserting to reporters, “You’ve all heard me say many times that we make our cases based on the facts and the law. These are not just words.”