Following the indictment of former President Donald Trump last week and his arraignment in federal court in Miami on Tuesday, a Republican senator has sworn to hold the politicized Justice Department accountable.
Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio pledged to block all of President Joe Biden’s personnel nominations for the Department of Justice, stating, “Until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, I will hold all DoJ nominees.”
Vance announced his strategy in a social media-posted video.
“It’s time we stopped just whining about this problem and debating this problem and actually do something about it,” he said.
Until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, I will hold all DoJ nominees. pic.twitter.com/UVRwi6Ue01
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) June 13, 2023
“I’ve announced today that I will be holding all Department of Justice nominees that Merrick Garland will use, if confirmed, not to enforce the law impartially… but clearly to harass his political opponents,” Vance says. “I think we have to grind this department to a halt until Merrick Garland promises to do his job and stop going after his political opponents.”
Vance went on to critique the Department of Justice under Garland and President Joe Biden for focusing primarily on political opponents of the Democratic Party, including conservative Catholic organizations, parents who criticize progressive policies at school board meetings, and, of course, Trump.
“Donald Trump is just one, and the most recent example of the fact that Merrick Garland uses his Department for political purposes,” he said.
Vance’s strategy would not completely derail Biden’s nominees for the Department of Justice, but each one would have to be confirmed by a vote on the floor rather than by unanimous consent, thereby delaying the process.
The Democrats currently possess a slim majority of 50 seats, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker.
Under the strategy, however, the department could be denied new federal prosecutors and potential judicial nominees.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) expressed her support for the proposal in a response tweet.
“Yes @JDVance1! Thank you! Action is the only way forward. Stop the weaponized government and hold them accountable!” she noted.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed 37 charges against Trump relating to his management of classified documents. Trump, President Joe Biden’s chief opponent in next year’s presidential election, could face decades in prison if proven guilty on all charges.
Trump’s counsel entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf in federal court on Tuesday. The federal judge presiding over the case granted Trump pre-trial release with no restrictions other than a prohibition on contacting witnesses.
At least twice, according to the indictment, Trump is alleged to have shown classified documents to individuals who lacked the necessary security clearances. The DOJ claims that both incidents occurred at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
Details regarding one of the alleged instances were leaked to CNN. CONTINUE READING…
