Thread by @ianbassin

As dark as today has been, I want to not lose sight of the light on the horizon. I started this thread before today's events, but share it now all the same as it will be part of the solution.

Why we should all be thrilled about @joebiden's nominees to lead @TheJusticeDept. /1

First, after the damage that has been done to the Dept and the rule of law over the past four years by Trump and Bill Barr, it was critical that the incoming AG not be a political actor -- so not someone who's held or run for office with a "D" next to their name, and also /2

..not someone who is a close long-time associate of the President's.

The AG at this point especially needs to be someone more associated with the independent application of the law, at arm's length from the WH, and above and outside of politics. /3

A retired federal judge was always, in my mind, the model type of AG for the period post-Trump.

Merrick Garland is one of the finest and most respected judges in the country.

And he has very important background at DOJ. /4

He served early in his career as an assistant to AG Ben Civiletti, who undertook a major review of the firewall that must exist between the WH and DOJ and that had been breached by Nixon. So that firewall likely was a very present consideration in Garland's early DOJ years /5

He later served as both a line prosecutor and also a political at Main Justice, giving him important experience from both the career and appointee perspectives. That will be critical for restoring the Dept. /6

And after today, it should be all the more clear that there will need to be accountability for the law breaking and, frankly, insurrection, we have seen today and over the past four years. Doing that well requires someone with Garland's bio. /7 beta.documentcloud.org/documents/2043…

Now I share some of the concerns around his judicial deference to law enforcement, but I'm less worried about that for two reasons. First, Biden has made a commitment to reducing incarceration and addressing racial inequities in the system. Garland will need to implement that. /8

Second, Biden has appointed 2 of the best civil rights lawyers and advocates in the country in @vanitaguptaCR & @KristenClarkeJD to be AAG and head of Civil Rights. They are indefatigable and brilliant warriors for reforming our crim justice system and enforcing civil rights. /9

As AAG, @vanitaguptaCR will also oversee the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Community Oriented Policing, which are the ways by which DOJ can push local law enforcement, where the bulk of equity and justice issues lie, to reform and improve. /10

And @KristenClarkeJD will have direct responsibility for prosecuting civil rights violations by local law enforcement, and for enforcing voting rights. As the person who led the biggest voter protection effort in the nation, she's exactly right for that role. /11

And last but not least, Lisa Monaco has been at the frontlines of protecting our democracy from threats foreign and domestic both as the top Homeland Security Adviser to Pres Obama and then after. As DAG she'll oversee the National Security Division and the Criminal Division. /12

Across the board, this is an outstanding team and perfectly suited to this critical moment in our nation's history. All Americans should be proud and comforted to have them serving us all and restoring the Department of Justice. /end