Merrick Garland Hungry For Expanded DOJ: ‘We Don’t Have Enough’

Attorney General Merrick Garland We talked a lot more about the Justice Department’s. “resources” During his Wednesday appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Justice Department was provided with by Congress “critical resources” Garland was created to enhance its national security, law enforcement and other capacities. He testified in the opening statement.

There were many times. During the hearing The prospect of being granted more resources was offered by the attorney general. This seemed to be more about personnel and funds than legislative tweaks.

Garland, in an exchange with Senator John Cornyn (R. Texas), rebutted the assertion that prosecutors are encouraged not to face certain charges in order to circumvent certain mandatory minimum sentences.

“This is a question of allocating our resources and focusing them on violent crime,” Garland claimed. He said that it was not the fault of policy divergent views, but that they are to be encouraged. “it’s a question of the resources.”

Garland provided a list of items to help answer the question: “Not enough people. We don’t have enough money. We don’t have enough jails. We don’t have enough judges.”

It amounts to “cherry-picking,” Cornyn made the argument, which Garland countered with, “If we apply it to every single crime, we will not be able to focus our resources on violent crime, significant drug trafficking, on the cartels, on the people who are killing people with fentanyl.”

Garland stated that the standing policy is to “focus the attention of our prosecutors and agents on things that are damaging the American people in the largest possible respect.”

The Justice Department $38.7B received The $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending Act signed by President Joe Biden December. This commitment to the agency resulted in a 10% overall funding increase. Government Executive.

Garland spoke throughout his testimony about setting priorities and protecting lives. Garland described how U.S. Marshals protect U.S. Supreme Court justices and their families. While protecting the U.S. Supreme Court justices, and their families, Marshals are committed to protecting them. GOP senators attack the attorney general Protesters suspected of violating anti-picketing laws have not been arrested or prosecuted.

The Judiciary Committee confronted Garland with a stark example of how lives were not saved on a large scale: the 108,000 deaths from overdoses within a year. This is a shocking death toll that the Food and Drug Administration has not stopped. It was driven synthetic opioids such as fentanyl or its analogues.

Garland discussed in detail how stopping the flow fentanyl into America is a priority. This includes communicating with Mexican officials for better coordination. But he stressed that border-related issues are a serious problem. “whole of government” problem.

The Justice Department’s efforts to address the fentanyl issue “not working,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, was the highest ranking member of the panel. “We’re going to help you if you’ll work with us to give you more tools. I hope you will meet us in the middle,” He concluded.

“Happy to have more tools,” Garland responded.

On the Democratic side of the issue, Senator Alex Padilla (D–CA), who occupied Kamala Harris’ California seat as vice president, asked Garland to confirm that the Justice Department has the resources necessary for hate crime investigations. The familiar refrain was the answer.

“Obviously, if anyone wants to give me more resources in any area of the Justice Department’s responsibility, I’m happy to take them,” Garland said.