Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered an opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to uphold its mission of ensuring national safety, protecting civil rights, and maintaining the rule of law.
Garland noted recent achievements, including the extradition of a lead assassin from the Sinaloa Cartel and securing a 27-year prison sentence for an individual who attempted a terrorist attack on NYPD officers in Times Square in 2022. He also detailed actions taken against cyber threats and international criminal activities, such as charging seven members of a Chinese government-backed hacking group and disrupting a botnet controlled by Russian intelligence services.
Garland emphasized that violent crime rates have been decreasing, citing an 18% drop in murders during the first quarter of this year following last year's historic decline in homicides. "We know we have much more work to do," he acknowledged.
The Attorney General reaffirmed the DOJ's commitment to protecting civil rights by prosecuting hate crimes and safeguarding reproductive freedoms under federal law. He highlighted successful legal actions such as challenging discriminatory redistricting plans and prosecuting monopolistic practices by major corporations like Live Nation-Ticketmaster and Apple.
Addressing threats against public servants, Garland stated: "Let me be clear: if anyone threatens public servants with violence, we will hold them accountable." He reiterated his dedication to defending the independence of the DOJ from improper influence and interference.
Garland discussed measures taken to ensure transparency with Congress while protecting sensitive information crucial for future investigations. He criticized efforts by certain committee members seeking contempt charges as part of broader attacks on the DOJ's work. These attacks include threats to defund specific investigations and spreading false claims about judicial processes.
"These repeated attacks on the Justice Department are unprecedented, and they are unfounded," Garland asserted. He stressed that these actions would not influence DOJ decision-making or deter their mission to uphold democracy free from political influence.
In closing, Garland expressed his readiness to answer questions from committee members.