NEW: Garland parries criticism of Justice Dept. response to Jan. 6 #CapitolRiot. Story w/@kyledcheney politico.com/news/2022/01/0… A few thoughts on speech….
Garland made noises about DOJ prosecuting higher-ups or inspirers, without naming names, but there's been no sign that's actually happening and there are ways we would expect to know. He did say they're following the money. May relate to reported probe of Powell-linked groups
Garland has been EXCEEDINGLY circumspect about public comments on Jan. 6, because just as he arrived at DOJ, judges were slamming prosecutors over interview acting US atty Sherwin gave predicting sedition charges politico.com/news/2021/03/2…
While AG has been tight-lipped on #J6 probe, his formulation re higher-ups like Trump is just about the same thing Sherwin told reporters soon after the attacks: they'll look at anyone who committed a crime... politico.com/news/2021/01/2…
I was a little surprised Garland laid out various factual assertions about what people did in the riot, without the often-obligatory statement that those are accusations and people are innocent until proven guilty. He did cite court docs and say DOJ has to respect civil liberties
Also worth noting Garland's language choices: he used 'attack' and not 'insurrection' or 'sedition.' Not even 'terrorism,' which his own agency has repeatedly used to describe 1/6 politico.com/news/2022/01/0…
Garland also tried to deflect the attacks on the 1/6 probe by noting that DOJ is working in other ways to combat efforts to undermine democracy.
He mentioned voting-rights and even threats to school officials--something DOJ officials have largely sought to downplay since the AG's memo on the subject triggered a huge GOP backlash in October. -30- politico.com/news/2021/10/0…
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