# F Merrick Garland. (He won't be going after anyone) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2022, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190 "2022-07-19T06:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/1 "2022-07-19T06:39:27Z")
So basically Garland won’t be going after Trump or anyone related to an election year . Bc he’s worried about optics apparently. I have no fucking words! > **[Opinion | Garland’s caution may have put the Justice Department in a quandary](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/18/merrick-garland-donald-trump-indictment-justice-department-in-a-quandary/)** > > Is the attorney general about give Donald Trump a pass? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/2 "2022-07-19T06:56:39Z")
Who chose Garland for this job, and why him? Is “wanting to appear non political” going to be used as meaning “being a coward” from now on? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/3 "2022-07-19T07:19:30Z")
Am I missing something? This _editorial_ seems to be a bunch of speculation. Where does it even say that Garland “won’t be going after anyone”? With a subhead that could follow Betteridge’s Law of Headlines, no less? (I would also note that the writer’s specific concern with indicting Trump or someone close to him before the midterms doesn’t exactly ease concerns of political motivation here…) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/4 "2022-07-19T07:24:38Z")
It’s not speculation. Garland sent out a notice to the agency to not go after anyone with out his express written consent. I saw it on Rachel Maddow. I may have given a bad link ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/5 "2022-07-19T07:26:24Z")
If that’s what you meant to discuss, then yes, you did. And barring more details, I _still_ don’t see how “don’t go accusing a former president of the United States of crimes without me signing off on it” says “he won’t be going after anyone.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/6 "2022-07-19T07:33:09Z")
What’s the only thing worse than not prosecuting Trump? Prosecuting Trump and getting a verdict of not guilty. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/7 "2022-07-19T11:03:08Z")
If this is indeed cowardice on Garland’s part, what would he have done on the SCOTUS? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/8 "2022-07-19T12:26:19Z")
Exactly. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, Garland was only nominated for the SCOTUS because he was inoffensive to Republicans and looked like he would get an easy pass in the senate. It was mistake for Obama to nominate him, he’s not SC Justice material, and he’s not Attorney General material either. His position on Trump has been inaction citing fear as his reason. He’s no more effective at his job than a Uvalde police chief. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/9 "2022-07-19T12:43:12Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Who chose Garland for this job, and why him? Biden. I think it was a consolation prize for not getting on the Supreme Court. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/10 "2022-07-19T12:54:43Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > His position on Trump has been inaction citing fear as his reason. Yeah, Republicans are going to be mad. Well, fuck that shit. It’s like trying to be nice to a Komodo dragon or a Great White shark. They are going to come after you no matter what you do. No point in being gentle with them. No point at all. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/11 "2022-07-19T13:02:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > …what would he have done on the SCOTUS? An attorney general’s job is so different than a justice’s job, so who knows? I think he was a good federal judge before being nominated, but an AG is more like a prosecutor, and a leader, and a politician. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/12 "2022-07-19T13:06:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > If this is indeed cowardice on Garland’s part, what would he have done on the SCOTUS? Garland would have been fine as a Supreme Court justice. The problem is that the role of a judge and the role of the Attorney General are very different. He was nominated by Biden as an antidote to the overt politicization of the Justice Department under William Barr, and Biden cited his judicial and apolitical temperament as virtues. But the job of an AG is to aggressively pursue the Administration’s positions on matters of law and the enforcement of justice (in an ethical and professional manner, of course). It was particularly infuriating how Garland and the Justice Department were completely on the sidelines last year while Republican-led states were rolling out new voter suppression laws. “Judicial temperament” sounds good in theory but it can become an excuse for inaction. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/13 "2022-07-19T13:07:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > What’s the only thing worse than not prosecuting Trump? > > Prosecuting Trump and getting a verdict of not guilty. I actually believe if Trump WAS convicted of something and sent to prison, he could win the 2024 election from prison. Republicans worship him. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/14 "2022-07-19T13:19:43Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Garland would have been fine as a Supreme Court justice. The problem is that the role of a judge and the role of the Attorney General are very different. Just because he’s not good at being AG doesn’t mean he’ll be a good SC Justice. I think he’s the type of guy who would never excel at anything. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/15 "2022-07-19T13:22:59Z")
Someone who is nominated by a serious president for SCOTUS has greatly excelled. I’m leaving aside whatever her name was that was nominated by GWB. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/16 "2022-07-19T13:34:56Z")
He was pretty highly regarded during his 14 years on the DC Court of Appeals, including seven as chief judge. The DC Circuit Court is widely considered the second most important federal court after the SC, as many challenges to administrative actions go through that court. Four of the current SC judges were previously DC Circuit Court judges. You don’t get to be in that position by just being a schlub. I’m no fan of Garland as AG, but it’s ridiculous to say that, “he’s the type of guy who would never excel at anything.” ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/17 "2022-07-19T23:25:48Z")
Remind me how many Jan 6 insurrectionists have been charged or convicted. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/18 "2022-07-19T23:48:26Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Remind me how many Jan 6 insurrectionists have been charged or convicted. - Hard to keep a bead on it because there’s a lot going on that most people don’t keep track of. To date, approximately 882 insurrectionists have been arrested and charged. About 240 have been adjudicated to a conclusion. This link is the most current I could find but is already out of date. > **[Jan. 6 Capitol Rioters Arrests and Sentences So Far](https://time.com/6133336/jan-6-capitol-riot-arrests-sentences/)** > > More than 840 people have been arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. * * * It’s fashionable to slam Merrick Garland just now, but there are lots of hints he’s not nearly so incompetent or stupid as some would have us believe. This enhancement would not have happened without Garland’s permission, either: > **[DOJ seeks longer sentence for Capitol rioter they labeled as a domestic...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-seeks-longer-sentence-capitol-rioter-labeled-domestic-terrorist-rcna38557)** > > Federal prosecutors want Guy Reffitt, the first Capitol attack defendant to go to trial, to spend 15 years in federal prison. It demonstrates the DOJ is not afraid to Go There, asserting domestic terrorism as an enhancement in moving these cases along. From the article as quoted from the DOJ’s pleading: > “It is clear from Reffitt’s conduct, including his express and implied intent, that Reffitt sought not just to stop Congress, but also to physically attack, remove, and replace the legislators who were serving in Congress,” they wrote. “This is a quintessential example of an intent to both influence and retaliate against government conduct through intimidation or coercion.” The enhancement would permit the trial court to impose a sentence of up to 15 years instead of the 9-11 years’ maximum permitted under the current sentencing scheme. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/19 "2022-07-19T23:49:32Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > If that’s what you meant to discuss, then yes, you did. > > And barring more details, I _still_ don’t see how “don’t go accusing a former president of the United States of crimes without me signing off on it” says “he won’t be going after anyone.” More than just prohibiting ‘accusing a former president … of crimes’ without Garland’s express written consent, it prohibits any INVESTIGATION of a former president (and of his closest advisors if they are working for his campaign). This will have a chilling effect on all who work at the Department of Justice. They know that any information they come across that might tend to suggest Trump et al violated US law, is potentially toxic to their careers. Unless they can get an audience with Merrick Garland and get his written consent, they must simply brush that information back under the rug. Garland has invoked William Barr as his authority for this policy. As many have noted, DOJ has long had a policy of non-interference with elections (ignored as it was by Comey). There was no need for Garland to enshrine the ultimate partisan political hack AG as his guide and exemplar. Yet he did. That, too, sends a message to all DOJ personnel. Concern over this memo is not limited to ignorant people or to emotionally-immature (‘impatient’) people: > > > Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen > (Looks as though Discourse isn’t doing its usual thing of showing the authors of these tweets; they are Laurence Tribe and Brian Tyler Cohen. Many other reputable lawyers and other well-informed people have expressed similar misgivings over Garland’s direction.) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190/20 "2022-07-19T23:59:10Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The enhancement would permit the trial court to impose a sentence of up to 15 years instead of the 9-11 years’ maximum permitted under the current sentencing scheme. Of course it’s good news that DOJ has been going after the foot soldiers (and some of their commanders) of the January 6 insurrection. We don’t know for certain that Garland plans to refrain from any charges against Trump and his fellow coup-planners. But there are worrying signs that this may be his intention, including expressions of surprise at the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson and Pat Cipollone. (A DOJ investigating Trump would surely have long since have done extensive interviews with those individuals, and many others–others who have been silent about being called by the DOJ --implying that they have _not_ been called. The DOJ may not talk about those they call in, but Trumpites so summoned are unlikely to have been uniformly silent about having been called.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-merrick-garland-he-wont-be-going-after-anyone/968190.md?page=2)