As Bill Shakespeare once wrote, “The past is prologue.” This week, as the FBI raided Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence, it’s worth taking a look at the past and how the Justice Department got to this point under the leadership of Merrick Garland, Obama’s unsuccessful Supreme Court nominee who became Biden’s attorney general .
Before taking office, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Garland as his attorney general. Then in February 2021, the Senate Judiciary Committee, responsible for evaluating such presidential nominees, held confirmation hearings for Garland. At the end of these hearings, Garland received a positive recommendation from the committee, thanks to her support for Republicans.
In addition to all Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Garland’s nomination was supported by Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Then on March 10, 2021, when Garland’s nomination went to the full Senate for a vote, it was approved by a 70-30 vote. Again, in addition to every Democratic senator, many Republicans also voted to appoint Merrick Garland as Attorney General of the United States.
The 20 GOP senators who joined Democrats to confirm Garland are:
Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capitol of West Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, John Thune of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Where are these Republicans now that the FBI raided Mar-A-Lago on Garland’s watch? Seemingly missing in action and conspicuously hushed on the search of Trump’s “Southern White House.”
Attention: Senate leadership @LeaderMcConnell @SenJohnThune @JohnCornyn have been completely hushed about the FBI raid on President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
— Gunnery Sergeant Jessie Jane Duff (@JessieJaneDuff) August 9, 2022
In the face of the Justice Department’s mounting offensive against Donald Trump, the question arises: Do those Republicans who supported Garland’s nomination and voted to make him Biden’s attorney general still support him, and what is his department doing?
It’s not worth pestering their offices with questions. That’s because last October, when Garland’s DOJ was breaking norms and politicizing his department to go after any number of Republicans and conservative cases, our friend Amber Athey asked the same question. In piece to The Spectator, seeking to find out whether these 20 Republicans had any remorse, she revealed that not a single senator agreed to comment.
An example of what Republicans should do in the wake of the FBI’s unprecedented raid on a political opponent of the current administration is Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who quickly called for Garland to resign or be impeached – and more from the DOJ and FBI about searches carried out on Monday.
At a minimum, Garland must resign or be impeached. The search warrant must be published. Christopher Wray must be removed. And the FBI reformed itself from the top down.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 9, 2022
