Thread by @joshgerstein

For 2nd day in a row, GOP lawmakers hit Garland for proposing only 4 new DEA agents as Fentanyl deaths surge. But AG says real no. is 131, counting agents OK'd this year but not yet hired. Garland: 'The budget math and the actual math doesn’t always add up.'

Democrats are pointing out that across-the-board cuts GOP would impose government-wide as part of debt limit extension would actually slash spending by about 22%. Garland says: 'It would be devastating for our efforts to combat drug trafficking. Totally devastating.'

Garland says that would lead to 11,000 jobs at FBI being eliminated.

Garland says he didn't know that FBI created 'EDUOFFICIALS' tag for certain matters related to threats against school board/school officials, but learned about it after the fact. Says it's a routine, internal tracking measure

Garland says result of the DOJ/FBI effort on the school board threats was zero full field investigations by FBI. Those deemed significant were handed off to state/local law enforcement.

Garland uses spicy language to pitch #FISA renewal: 'This is what we need in order to fight the Chinese.' Mentions cyber attacks exflitration of military information, computer tech, dissident targeting.

'The consequences of removing 702 is not going to punish the Justice Department. It is going to punish the American people in the most direct way possible.'

@Rep_Clyde complains about some #Jan6 defendants taking more than 2 years to get to trial, asks if it violates 6th Amendment speedy trial rights. Garland says 2 years can be OK, sometimes def attys ask for extensions, discovery extensive in those cases.

Garland corrects earlier answer on EDUOFFICIALS threats, says FBI opened one full, field investigation on such a matter. Not zero.

Garland also took some flak for budget proposal zeroing out reimbursement to state/locals for cost of jailing undocumented immigrants in criminal system. I know in many prior years DOJ also zeroed this out, but Congress always adds back.

@Rep_Clyde is shocked to learn that FBI doesn't respond to #FOIA request in statutory 20 business day time limit. He's interested in FBI ino on attacks on anti-abortion groups. Will he add a few hundred million to FBI budget to make those responses more timely?

Clyde stunned to discover EOUSA sends out absurd no-records responses. I am unstunned. But glad he's committed to accelerating #FOIA