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Laurence Tribe: Merrick Garland Must Investigate Trump or Risk Country’s Future

Legal scholar Laurence Tribe says Attorney General Merrick Garland has a duty to investigate former President Donald Trump for the insurrection of January 6 or risk the country’s future.

“We need to begin with the fundamental precept that not all crimes are created equal,” Tribe wrote in an op-ed for The Boston Globe. “Those crimes — regardless of who allegedly commits them — whose very aim is to overturn a fair election whereby our tradition of peaceful, lawful succession from one administration to the next takes place — a tradition begun by George Washington, continued by John Adams, and preserved by every president since except Donald Trump — are impossible to tolerate if we are to survive as a constitutional republic.” read more

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Department of Justice Suing Georgia Over Voting Restrictions

The Department of Justice is filing a lawsuit challenging new voting restrictions in Georgia.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the DOJ‘s action during a press conference this morning.

“This lawsuit is the first of many steps we are taking to ensure that all eligible voters can cast a vote, that all lawful votes are counted, and that every voter has access to accurate information,” he said.  read more

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DOJ Expected to Announce Investigation of Minneapolis Police

Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to announce that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will launch an investigation into the policing practices of law enforcement in Minneapolis.

“The investigation will examine practices used by police, including the use of force, and whether the department engages in discriminatory practices, according to the person. It will also look into the department’s handling of misconduct allegations among other things, the person said. It’s unclear whether the years under investigation will begin when Floyd died or before,” The Associated Press reported. read more

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Lindsey Graham Refuses Call to Hold Quick Confirmation Hearing for Merrick Garland as AG

Lindsey Graham plans to investigate Obama over Mike Flynn case

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has refused a call to hold a quick confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, who President Joe Biden has nominated to serve as the nation’s attorney general. Garland’s hearing is scheduled for February 8.

Graham says the hearing is designed to “score political points” ahead of the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, which is scheduled for February 9. Graham still counts himself among Trump’s most loyal supporters despite the former president’s role in inciting a violent insurrection against Congress last month.

“Your request is highly unusual,” Graham wrote in a letter to incoming Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Monday. “The Senate is about to conduct its first ever impeachment trial of a former president, and only its fourth trial of a president,

incumbent read more

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Biden Selects Merrick Garland for Attorney General

Obama Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland

President-elect Joe Biden has selected federal appeals judge Merrick Garland to be the next United States attorney general, a transition official has confirmed. Garland has served on the federal appeals bench since 1997 and previously worked as a federal prosecutor, most prominently securing the conviction of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh during his time with the Justice Department.

Garland is perhaps most well known for the debacle that ensued after he was nominated by former President Barack Obama to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Garland’s nomination came after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, perhaps the court’s most prominent conservative voice. At the time, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate majority leader, refused to hold confirmation hearings for Garland, arguing that the pick should not be considered during an election year.

However, McConnell reversed course once President Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, ultimately seating Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, securing a conservative majority on the court. McConnell rushed to confirm Barrett in particular following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, ignoring his previous statement about confirming a Supreme Court Justice during an election year.

“Judge Garland will be viewed in a whole new light now,” a Biden aide told CNN.

Biden last month told reporters that he would not wait until the results of the Georgia runoffs to make his decision for attorney general.

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Senate Republicans Are on the Attack Against Potential AG Nominee Sally Yates

On Monday, Attorney General William Barr announced that he will be stepping down from his position shortly before Christmas. His replacement will be Jeff Rosen, who is currently serving as Barr’s number 2.

Rosen, of course, won’t be holding his position for very long. Joe Biden will be taking over as President on January 20th and will be selecting his own Attorney General.

There are a few different names on Biden’s short list, including Merrick Garland and former Alabama senator Doug Jones. Another potential candidate, Sally Yates, is drawing the ire of GOP lawmakers.

While Yates is incredibly qualified and experienced, Republicans are still angry about her role investigating the ties between Donald Trump and Russia.

When asked if he would consider approving Yates as Attorney General, Texas’ John Cornyn simply said, “no.”

Chuck Grassley gave a longer answer. He told reporters, “

I think there’s plenty of people that he wouldn’t have to take a chance on her.” The Iowa senator also referred to Yates previous investigation into Trump as “very worrisome.” read more