Garland Rips 'Unprecedented' Attacks on Justice Department After Biden Asserts Executive Privilege

Attorney General Merrick Garland strongly condemned the "unprecedented and frankly unfounded" attacks on the Justice Department after President Biden invoked executive privilege to block subpoenas for audio recordings of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur regarding classified documents found in his possession.

### Garland's Defense of Biden's Executive Privilege

Attorney General Merrick Garland vehemently denounced the recent "unprecedented and frankly unfounded attacks" on the Justice Department in the wake of President Biden's decision to assert executive privilege over audio recordings of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur. Garland defended the move as necessary to protect the integrity of sensitive law enforcement investigations.

On his way to an FBI memorial for fallen agents, Garland fielded questions from reporters before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the Judiciary Committee were scheduled to hold hearings on whether to refer the attorney general to the Justice Department for contempt charges for refusing to hand over the audio recordings.

### Invocation of Executive Privilege

In response to a reporter's question about a potential conflict of interest, Garland asserted that his recommendation to the president to invoke executive privilege was based on the principles of protecting the Justice Department's impartiality. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that investigations are conducted according to facts and the law, without political influence.

### Attacks on the Justice Department

Garland characterized the request for the Hur recordings and other recent efforts to discredit the Justice Department as part of a broader campaign to undermine the integrity of law enforcement. He expressed concern that such attacks pose risks to agents and prosecutors.

### Garland's Resolve

Despite the attacks, Garland vowed to continue upholding the principles of federal prosecution, following the facts and the law while screening out inappropriate influences. He stressed the importance of protecting the department's ability to conduct high-profile and sensitive investigations unabated.

### Delays in Special Counsel Cases

Regarding the potential delays in the two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, Garland noted that the cases are now in the hands of the judiciary and declined to comment further.

### White House Counsel's Letter

White House Counsel Ed Siskel sent a scathing letter to Congress, condemning their efforts to obtain the recording as lacking legitimate purpose and revealing their partisan political agenda. The letter implied that the White House feared potential negative portrayals of Biden in the audio, especially in an election year.

### Details of the Hur Interview Transcript

Although the transcript of Biden's interview with Hur showed some inconsistencies in his recall, it also demonstrated his deep memory in other areas. The White House and Biden's aides are sensitive about questions regarding his age, as he is the oldest president ever and is seeking another term.

### Findings of Classified Documents Investigation

Special counsel Hur's report concluded that many of the classified documents recovered from various locations were retained by mistake. However, investigators identified evidence of willful retention and disclosure of some records found in Biden's Delaware home.

### Biden's Opposition to Troop Surge

The files in question relate to a troop surge in Afghanistan during the Obama administration, which Biden strongly opposed. He reportedly kept records of his position, including a classified letter to Obama, and shared some information with a ghostwriter for his memoirs.