By Steve Neavling
Outgoing Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the integrity of the agency against accusations of political bias in a heartfelt farewell to Justice Department staff on Thursday.
His remarks seemed to address ongoing criticisms from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies, who have frequently accused the department of operating with partisan motivations, NBC News reports.
“The story that has been told by some outside of this building about what has happened inside of it is wrong. You have worked to pursue justice, not politics. That is the truth and nothing can change it,” Garland said in his address.
Garland used the moment to underscore the Justice Department’s longstanding commitment to independence, a principle he stressed was crucial amid rising concerns about the incoming administration. This week, Senate Democrats voiced fears that Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, would compromise the department’s autonomy by prioritizing Trump’s directives.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has lambasted the justice system, branding it as corrupt and accusing prosecutors, judges, and DOJ officials of political bias. His claims have only intensified as he faces a series of criminal investigations and trials.
Garland addressed the criticism.
“The norms of the Justice Department,” he said, “include our commitment to guaranteeing the independence of the Justice Department from both the White House and the Congress concerning law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.”
He added, “We make that commitment not because independence is necessarily constitutionally required, but because it is the only way to ensure that our law enforcement decisions are free from partisan influence.”
Garland’s speech, delivered to a packed room, was punctuated by moments of visible emotion. Many in the audience were also moved as he reflected on the department’s mission and challenges during his leadership.
The timing of Garland’s address coincided with Senate hearings for Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general. During her confirmation hearing, senators pressed Bondi on whether she could lead the department independently, with Democrats questioning whether her loyalty would lie with the Constitution or with Trump. These concerns were amplified by Trump’s history of dismissing two attorneys general during his first term.
The Senate hearing also spotlighted a broader debate over the perceived politicization of the Justice Department. Democrats accused Trump and Bondi of planning to target political opponents, while Republicans countered by alleging that President Joe Biden and Garland had already weaponized the agency during their tenure.
Garland’s speech indirectly touched on these contentious issues, acknowledging the repeated criticisms the department has faced during his leadership.
“I know that, over the years, some have wrongly criticized you, saying that you have allowed politics to influence your decision-making,” he said. “That criticism often came from people with political views opposite from one another, each making the exact opposite points about the same set of facts.”
The outgoing attorney general’s remarks echoed broader frustrations with accusations that the department’s work has been tainted by partisanship. Biden, in his recent statement pardoning his son Hunter Biden, also referenced these tensions, accusing critics of injecting “raw politics” into the federal prosecution.
