We’re walking down the last steps of the Biden Administration. We’re leaving the land of the good that we knew. It’s almost the end of an amazing administration. So very many good things will likely get changed within a week or less. It’s depressing. Actually, the potential of what will change is just terrifying.
Merrick Garland has resigned from his position as Attorney General for the United States. He has stepped down and away from the Justice Department. I shudder to think of what will happen with some of the candidates being brought in, and the new AG does not inspire confidence, if, indeed, she becomes AG (please no).
Merrick has left a legacy behind him, even though he was accused of slow-walking the tRump cases until after the election. We could have had him left, right, and center on the insurrection case. But there was not enough time. Did you know he was up for a Supreme Court position that was stopped by a Republican Senate? I didn’t either!
His tenure was good and bad – overseeing antitrust cases, then being accused of “weaponizing” the Justice Department. Civil rights cases and probes from Capitol Hill. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem he was quite strong enough to really get things done. He said the story from outside the building does not match the justice being sought inside the building. They were there for justice. They were there to do the right thing. But so much remains in limbo heading into the tRump era. If this wasn’t used for weaponization inder President Biden, it certainly could be under tRump. The Mango Mandarin has promised to “get even” with his “enemies” and with the person currently up for AG (please, no) it could very easily be turned that way.
One of the attendees of this farewell was Judge Tanya Chutkan. I wonder what she thinks of the failure of the insurrection case. I would think it would bug her, at the very least, to know that we COULD HAVE won the case. But Merrick took too long to bring someone in for as detailed and time-consuming as the case would be. We could have had a conviction. Now we have a madman coming in. And that’s a majorly missed opportunity.
Merrick, what happened to you? What happened to what you swore you would do? You became weak and hesitant when we needed you most. Some say you brought normalcy to the Justice Department and it was there when we needed it most for so many cases. But slow walking the two against the Orangutan were Not What We Needed. Yet the comments on your resignation were things like “what you did were the exact opposite of politicization”. So it’s a push-me pull-you for what your legacy will be. (Bonus points if you know what that comes from.)
Nevertheless, thank you for your service, Merrick. You tried and that’s what matters. The Justice Department will certainly *not* be the same without you in there, and not just for the reason of the Orange Baby Balloon and his entourage coming in. I wish you all the best.
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Well, the MAIN thing that “happened” to him was that he felt there was a major need to restore the Department of Justice to a semblance of its pre-45 status. When Trump got into office in 2017, he made sure that his AGs would be deferential to him and his wants and needs (and any AG who dared defy him found themselves on the outs) and, like most of the other government agencies, Justice needed a serious refreshing and to restore the notion of a REAL independent justice system, not a simple machine designed to serve the President’s whims at the expense of all other issues.
Yes, it would’ve been much better if Garland had behaved a little more like Trump’s little lap dogs (if Trump was so eager to whine about being “the victim of a political witch hunt,” he should be damned thankful that Garland was “old school” in believing that justice shouldn’t serve political winds and that the AG wasn’t supposed to be the President’s personal lawyer; Trump never saw what a REAL witch hunt would’ve done–but then, the fat dotard spent the whole 2016 campaign with “lock her up” as a rallying cry despite the fact that Hillary Clinton hadn’t done a single thing that warranted her being locked up) but, as noted, Garland was “old school.” He KNEW the risks that were involved with any attempt to bring Trump to the real justice he deserved not to mention the precedent that could be set if Trump should somehow get back in the White House after being subjected to a failed prosecution. We all know that Trump will still probably indulge his darker instincts against his rivals but, just imagine if Trump had been subjected to a full trial involving the insurrection and the stolen documents cases and, somehow, managed to be found “not guilty” by the jurors. And then, he got back into the White House. You can damn well be sure he’d make sure that HIS Justice Department would be going after EVERYONE involved in the cases–the members of the J6 investigation committee (whether they’re still in Congress or not), Jack Smith, the judges who heard the cases, all the witnesses against Trump (whether just in the investigation or the actual jury trials). He’d make sure that the GOP Speaker denied the credentials of any member of the House who’d participated in the J6 investigation (he’d probably demand the Speaker deny the credentials of any House member–Dem or GOPer–who’d issued a negative comment about/against Trump) and, of course, he’d demand the same of a GOP Senate Majority Leader.
I know there are certain armchair warriors who raged against Garland’s hesitation/reluctance (though, it’s worth noting that President Biden wasn’t exactly pushing Garland to go after Trump either yet no “outrage” at Biden’s “cowardice”) but it’s worth noting that none of these “warriors” had ANY actual evidence or information that would have helped Garland in the least. GOOD legal cases are NOT made in the media and the BEST evidence is NEVER made public until the actual day in court. But, certain armchair warriors here obviously don’t understand that.
I appreciate the comment … I think.
Garland was a crap choice for SCOTUS, which is why no one fought for him.
He was a crap choice for AG and I will blame him along with Grampy Biden who appointed him, for Trump getting back into office.
No tears will be shed by me for Milquetoast Merrick.
When the top law enforcement officer ignores the greatest crime against our country, and does NOTHING, when the evidence was there to at least charge his ass, then he failed his duty. The only arm chair warriors are those sitting in comfort typing away knowing they have NO DIRECT experience with what the law does to poor folks EVERYDAY! Hypocrites.
Gee, Scott, nice of you to … comment. I am *NOT* an armchair warrior. I have experience with the law. Not as much, but nevertheless I do.
Uhm, Susan? You wrote this:
“Did you know he was up for a Supreme Court position that was stopped by a Republican Senate? I didn’t either!”
Mitch McConnell refused even a hearing for Garland who was nominated y President Obama.
How could someone in your position NOT know this?!?
That’s a good question. It’s called I didn’t do enough research. I choose a topic based on whether or not I can say something interesting about it. So it’s purely my mistake. I was intending to just as the header says – saying goodbye. And you’ve taught me something. Thank you!
Thanks, I think?
We sent 140,000 Boys into the face of machine gun fire at Normandy. 99% of our citizens HAVE NO CLUE as they haven’t even served ONE DAY. My five uncles fought in that war. Now WE give the highest office in the land to a NAZI LOVING TRAITOR. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE who wants to justify where we are can stick it up their ass. If any of the readers don’t like it, I live in Carrboro NC, am easy to find. Call me an armchair warrior to my face, after what I’ve faced, and be prepared for a RETORT! It’s easy for cowards to talk over the internet, and shoot their mouth off, exercising the right, FOR NOW, to act tough. Those boys didn’t have that luxury. Neither have I in my life. The LAW IS JUST WHOMEVER HOLDS THE GUNS. FACT. So back up your shit nazi apologists. Privileged cowards.