A reporter asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to explain “exactly” his role in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of former President Donald Trump, and his response was revealing.
A reporter questioned Garland, who as head of the U.S. Department of Justice oversaw the Smith investigation, about why he did not halt the indictment.
“When did you find out the special counsel was headed down this track? And why did you choose not to stop him as was in your power?” an off-camera reporter asked Garland, who was sitting at a table with other officials.
“So, as you know, I can’t talk about the particular particulars of this or any other ongoing criminal matter. As I said when I pointed out, Mr. Smith, I did so because it underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to both independence and accountability. Mr. Smith is a veteran career prosecutor. He has assembled a group of experienced and talented prosecutors and agents who share his commitment to integrity and the rule of law. Any questions about this matter will have to be answered by their filings in court,” Garland said.
Garland was then asked, “Can you give the American public a very clear sense of what exactly your role was in the indictment process, just so people can understand what that role is?”
Garland refused to provide specifics and merely responded, “My role has been consistent with the regulations that define the attorney general’s responsibilities under the special counsel regulations, and I have adhered to those regulations.”
WATCH:
Attorney General Garland tells @PierreTABC that his role in Trump indictment was "completely consistent with the regulations and set forth responsibilities" under special counsel regulations.
"All comments on this will have to come in filings in court." https://t.co/Yzj2t1zHur pic.twitter.com/Z3PaSOEhDI
— ABC News (@ABC) June 14, 2023
Trump was arraigned in Miami on Tuesday in the case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Biden’s Department of Justice. Trump’s counsel entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf in federal court.
The federal judge granted Trump pre-trial release with no restrictions other than a prohibition on witness contact. 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.
At least twice, according to the indictment, Trump allegedly showed classified documents to individuals who lacked the required security clearances. The DOJ asserts that both incidents occurred at Trump’s New Jersey golf club.
CNN received information regarding one of the alleged instances.
The network reported that federal prosecutors had “obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.”
The charges “include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations,” according to ABC News.
“Maximum sentences for the respective charges, per their statutes, range from five up to 20 years, although any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” the outlet added.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
An explosive report this week also speculated that Special Counsel Jack Smith may execute a “backup plan” if his case in Florida against Trump does not stick. CONTINUE READING…
