Merrick Garland

 

Merrick Garland wrapped up questions at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing to become attorney general with bipartisan support on the panel and a commitment to “turn down the volume” on policy fights at the Justice Department.

Garland, a 24-year federal judge and former Justice prosecutor, acknowledged divisive times after the riot Jan. 6 at the Capitol over election results, the videos of deaths last year of Black Americans and disputes over which cases the department should pursue.

“It’s not just that the department has to do justice, but it has to appear to do justice, and the people of the United States have to believe that justice is being done,” Garland said. “Otherwise, people lose faith in the rule of law.”

Garland added that he wasn’t naïve, but that he hoped to return the Justice Department to pursuing law enforcement and policies with bipartisanship.

“I would like during my time in the Justice Department to turn down the volume,” Garland said.

Confirmation hearing:Merrick Garland calls Capitol riot probe 'first priority'; promises no political interference

His top priorities include fighting domestic terrorism such as the Capitol riot and preventing foreign terrorism, such as a potential attack in the anniversary of the hijackings Sept. 11, 2001.

During the hearing, Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas each

 voiced support for Garland.Grassley, who refused to hold a hearing in 2016 for Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court, called him “a good pick for this job” and said, “No one doubts that Judge Garland is qualified.”The chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. said the panel  would vote March 1 on his nomination and the full Senate is  expected to vote next week.

More here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/22/live-politics-updates-merrick-garland-hearings-joe-biden-neera-tanden/4538108001/

Sen. Dick Durbin, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Monday that he expected the panel to vote on Merrick Garland’s nomination to becom attorney general on March 1 with a full Senate vote the same wek after hearings Monday and Tuesday.