In his interview with NBC Nightly News, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that DOJ will investigate anyone who interfered with the peaceful transfer of power and made it clear that the Justice Department is doing its own investigation.
Video clip via NBC Nightly News:
EXCLUSIVE: @LesterHoltNBC presses AG Merrick Garland on the Jan 6 investigation
Garland pledges to hold accountable anyone “criminally responsible for the events surrounding Jan 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another” pic.twitter.com/1J041nB5eH
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) July 26, 2022
Garland answered when asked if Trump being a potential 2024 candidate would disrupt his investigation, “Look, we pursue justice without fear or favor. We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable, that’s what we do. We don’t pay any attention to other issues with respect to that.”
AG Garland added, “I’ll say again, that we will hold accountable anyone who is criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the transfer– legitimate, lawful transfer of power from one administration to the next.”
The Attorney General was asked about a criminal referral from the 1/6 Committee, and he said, “So I think that’s totally up to the committee. We will have the evidence that the committee has presented and whatever evidence it gives us. I don’t think that the nature of how they style, the manner in which information is provided, is of particular significance from any legal point of view. That’s not to downgrade it or to or disparage it. It’s just that that’s not what, that’s not the issue here. We have our own investigation, pursuing through the principles of prosecution.”
In other words, the DOJ welcomes information and referrals from the 1/6 Committee, but they are also doing their own investigation, which would seem to confirm that all Trump figures are subject to investigation, including the former president himself.
Merrick Garland has pointed out over and over again that no one is exempt from being investigated by the DOJ in relation to the 1/6 attack. Garland says that they are looking at everyone, and everyone includes Donald J. Trump.
The full interview with Garland airs tonight on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.
Mr. Easley is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
