Thread by @CraigCaplan

"I want to welcome you back to the Senate Judiciary Cmte. I know this return trip has been a long time in planning and you're here, finally."-Senate Judiciary Chair Durbin opens Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1363859274393346048

Senate Judiciary Chair Durbin (D-IL) on working together with Ranking Member Grassley (R-IA): "Now, Illinois and Iowa sit next to each other and so do Durbin and Grassley.

Durbin acknowledges outgoing Judiciary Chair Graham as a "welcomed partner on many issues including one of the most challenging issues, immigration."

Durbin commends outgoing top Senate Judiciary Democrat Feinstein "for leading the cmte Democrats with grace and resolve over the past four years. I know she will continue to be an important voice on this committee on a host of issues."

Chair Durbin: "Judge Garland, should you be confirmed and I have every confidence that you will be, you will oversee a Justice Department in an existential moment."

Durbin: "The misdeeds of the Trump Justice Department brought this nation to the brink...And so, Judge Garland, it’s no overstatement to say that your nomination is one of the most critical in the Department’s history."

Durbin to Garland: "When you are confirmed, Judge Garland, you, along with the rest of this nation, will continue to grapple with the January 6th attacks."

Durbin:"As nation’s chief law enforcement officer,you will be tasked w/the solemn duty to responsibly investigate the events of that day,to prosecute all of the individuals responsible & to prevent future attacks driven by hate, inflammatory words,& bizarre conspiracy theories."

Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Grassley: "Judge Garland, I just want to say that I like you. I respect you, and I think you’re a good pick for this job. But I have a lot of questions about how you’re going to run the Department of Justice."

Atty General nominee Garland: "If confirmed, I will supervise the prosecution of white supremacists and others who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, a heinous attack that sought to disrupt a cornerstone of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power to a newly elected gov't."

"I don’t have any reason to think he should not remain in place."-Garland responding to Grassley on Durham's special counsel investigation. Also says he needs to speak to Durham first on his Russia probe.

Garland to Cruz: "I am not the President's lawyer. I am the United States lawyer and I will do everything in my power, which I believe is considerable, to fend off any effort by anyone to make prosecutions or investigations partisan or political in any way."

Leahy to Attorney General nominee Garland: "I wish five years ago we would have seen you seated there for your Supreme Court nomination, but I"m glad you're here today. Garland: "Thank you, Senator."