'Trump's DOJ was political? Are you kidding?' Republicans grill Biden's AG Merrick Garland as he defends FBI school board memo, insists parents are entitled to protest and denies calling them domestic terrorists

  • Garland is testifying before the Democrat-led committee on Thursday morning
  • Jim Jordan accused Garland of giving GOP lawmakers 'the finger' in response to inquiries over his memo directing the FBI to crack down on public schools
  • Another Republican lawmaker confronted him on his son-in-law's company, Panorama Education, which has been accused of utilizing critical race theory 
  • Two representatives demanded that Garland appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and whether he's profited off Joe Biden's presidency
  • Rep. Ken Buck compared the prices of Hunter Biden's artwork to the values of classic paintings by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas 
  • The Judiciary committee is chaired by New York Democrat Rep. Jerry Nadler 
  • Nadler's opening statement appears to take a veiled shot at his GOP colleagues 

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee are tearing into Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland at his first appearance before the panel on Thursday.  

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) kicked off Garland's hearing on a raucous note with an opening statement attacking Garland and his Democratic colleagues. 

'The chairman just said Trump's DOJ was political. Are you kidding me?' Jordan asked in response to Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler's opening statement.

He accused the DOJ of 'opening a snitch line on parents' with his memo announcing a crackdown on school board meeting incidents and giving lawmakers who asked about it 'the finger.'

'Republicans on this committee have sent the Attorney General 13 letters in the last six months,' he said. 'Eight of the letters, we've got nothing - they just gave us the finger.' 

'Folks all around the country, they tell me, for the first time they are afraid of their government.' 

Earlier this month Garland issued a memo directing the FBI to work with law enforcement to crack down on a rising number of violent incidents at school board meetings and education settings. The normally apolitical field has become an ideological battleground as parents express outrage at mask mandates and critical race theory being taught in schools.

It's Garland's first appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. In his opening statement Garland condemned the Capitol rioters and vowed to fight for civil rights

It's Garland's first appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. In his opening statement Garland condemned the Capitol rioters and vowed to fight for civil rights

The hearing got off to a contentious start, with Republicans accusing Democrats of censorship

The hearing got off to a contentious start, with Republicans accusing Democrats of censorship

He wrote the memo after a letter from the National School Boards Association compared those parents to domestic terrorists. 

In his opening remarks Jordan cited a line in Garland's order establishing 'dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting' to discuss the matter.

'A snitch line on parents, started five days after a left wing political organization asked for it. If that's not political I don't know what is,' he said. 'Where's the dedicated lines of communication with local leaders regarding our southern border?'

'Nope, can't do that, the Biden Justice Department is going to go after parents who object to some racist, hate-American curriculum.' 

Jordan blasted Garland's memo on school board protests as a 'snitch line' on concerned parents

Jordan blasted Garland's memo on school board protests as a 'snitch line' on concerned parents

Republicans demand Garland appoint special counsel to probe Hunter Biden 

At one point in the heated hearing Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) pressed Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate President Joe Biden's son Hunter. 

In a bizarre opening to his question time Buck displayed famous artworks by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, which he claims are worth $700,000 and $500,000 respectively. 

In fact the Money sold for $57.3 million in London in 2014, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  

The following painting was one by the president's son, which was valued by Georges Berges Gallery at $500,000. 

'A single piece of art from Hunter Biden sells for more than the average American home,' the lawmaker said. 

Laughter erupted in the tense chamber when Buck revealed the work. 

'You may think that when Hunter Biden is in such exclusive company that he would have a background, artistic training for example. But you would be wrong if you thought that,' he said.

He claimed that Hunter couldn't find a gallery to list his work in 2019 - before his father became president. 

'By the way Mr. Attorney General, this is the same Hunter Biden being investigated by your department and the IRS for tax fraud,' Buck said, questioning who would buy his art if not someone looking to curry favor with the Biden White House.

During his time to speak, Rep. Ken Buck questioned Garland on whether he would appoint a special counsel to probe Hunter Biden. He claimed that the White House was fueling an ethics violation by letting the president's son sell his art at prices similar to what classic works sell for

Garland appeared confused when Buck showed him several artworks and said he wasn't familiar with Hunter Biden's painting

Garland appeared confused when Buck showed him several artworks and said he wasn't familiar with Hunter Biden's painting

Buck asked Garland if he would appoint a special counsel to investigate the recovering drug addict. 

Garland said he wasn't able to discuss 'pending investigations.'  

At another point, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) questioned Garland on the guidelines for appointing a special counsel - and appeared to accuse the president himself of potentially committing a crime.

'There have been multiple reports that Hunter Biden made enormous sums of money, and he's admitted that's because of his family ties. Now that, by itself, might not be a crime,' McClintock said.

'But there have also now been multiple reports that emails and communications from Hunter Biden have indicated that his finances are intermingled with those of his father's.'

He asked Garland, 'If that doesn't call for an independent investigation, the president, what would?'

Garland again declined to comment on any specific investigation but pointed out that Hunter Biden was already under investigation in Delaware.

Garland denies angry parents are 'domestic terrorists' 

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) pressed Garland on allegations that a 'boy wearing a skirt' raped and sexually harassed two girls at two different Loudoun County high schools, though Garland denied having knowledge of the case.

Asked whether the FBI was investigating the matter Garland said, 'I don't believe so but I don't know.' 

Videos of the alleged victim's father being violently restrained by law enforcement at a Loudoun County schoolboard meeting after speaking out in fury went viral and sparked Republican outrage. 

'Attorney General do you believe that a father attending a meeting exercising his First Amendment rights and yes, getting angry, about whatever lies are being told about his daughter getting raped at the school he sent her to be educated in, that this is domestic terrorism - yes or no?' Roy asked.

Garland, visibly weary, replied: 'No, I do not think people getting angry at schoolboards for whatever reason constitute domestic terrorism. It's not even a close question.' 

Jordan and several other lawmakers grilled Garland over the DOJ memo instructing federal law enforcement to work with local police to crack down on rising violence in education settings

Jordan and several other lawmakers grilled Garland over the DOJ memo instructing federal law enforcement to work with local police to crack down on rising violence in education settings

Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Green were seen in the audience. Greene and Boebert are not members of the House Judiciary Committee

Reps. Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Green were seen in the audience. Greene and Boebert are not members of the House Judiciary Committee

Jordan and other Republican representatives were asked several times to wear their masks when not speaking

Jordan and other Republican representatives were asked several times to wear their masks when not speaking

Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), a Trump ally and former NFL star, asked if Garland supported the comparison between domestic terrorism and parents' school board protests.

Garland said the DOJ was only concerned about 'violence and threats of violence.' 

'We are not investigating peaceful protests,' he said.

Burgess also attacked CRT and said parents should be encouraged to weigh in on public school curricula. 

'We do not expect, nor will we tolerate, leftist teaching of our children behind our backs, the evil of CRT, how to hate our country and hate others based on skin color,' he said.

At another point Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) accused Garland of 'trampling on the rights of parents.' 

Later on Jordan asked Garland if FBI agents would be attending public school board meetings, which the stunned Biden official denied. 

 'I want to be as clear as I can be: This is not about what happens inside schoolboard meetings. This is only about threats of violence,' Garland said of his memo.

GOP Rep. Johnson accuses Garland of a conflict of interest 

At another point Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) grilled Garland on his son-in-law, who founded a company called Panorama Education that allegedly utilizes CRT teachings.

Johnson accused Garland of a conflict of interest by cracking down on anti-CRT parents.

'Did you seek ethical guidance before you issued a letter that promotes the financial interests of your family?' he asked.

Garland denied that his memo had anything to do with the controversial theory. 

He also flatly denied any ethics violations, snapping at Johnson that he was 'exquisitely aware of the ethics requirements.'

'But you didn't follow them,' Johnson shot back.  

At another point, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) questioned whether meetings between local and federal law enforcement that he directed to occur within '30 days' of issuing his memo were actually occurring.

Garland again failed to provide a direct answer, claiming he hoped the directive was being carried out.

'I don't know whether they're ongoing but I expect and hope that they are going,' he said. 'I doubt there have been meetings in every jurisdiction.'

Bishop replied, 'Doesn't that make it worse, Mr. Attorney General, if you don't even know if these meetings that you directed urgently to occur, are occurring?'

'What is left indeed of the memo, except that your use of federal law enforcement moral authority to stigmatize widespread movement of first amendment activity, at least a significant portion of which is directed on the ideology by which your son-in-law makes a living?' 

'What are you afraid of?': Hearing erupts over House GOP video 

Decorum in the chamber broke down soon after the hearing began when Jordan attempted to show a video of school board meetings - that Democrats claim was against the rules to show.

Rep. Madeleine Dean  (D-PA) rose to object, asking Jordan if he had 'given 48 hours' notice to the committee clerk that he was going to use a video.'

Jordan replied, 'Well first of all, there's no 48 hour rule, it's not in the committee rules. Second we did let the majority staff know there's a video and we've given it to them this morning.'

Chaos broke out when Nadler sustained Dean's objection.

The New York Democrat said Republicans were acting out of order.

'What's out of order is there is no 48-hour rule, that's what's out of order,' Jordan snapped. 

'What are you afraid of?' Rep. Chip Roy questioned during the heated moment. 'Mr. Chairman, what are our colleagues on the other side of the aisle afraid of?' 

Jordan accused Nadler of 'censoring' him for not allowing the video. 

Twice during the chaotic hearing, House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) urged House lawmakers to wear masks when they were not speaking.

Rep. Madeleine Dean objected to Jordan playing a video during his opening statement, claiming it ran afoul of the committee's hearing rules

Rep. Madeleine Dean objected to Jordan playing a video during his opening statement, claiming it ran afoul of the committee's hearing rules

During the chaotic hearing Donald Trump chimed in with an emailed statement from his Save America PAC.

'The insurrection took place on November 3, Election Day. January 6 was the Protest!' he wrote.  

Garland condemns Capitol rioters but doesn't say whether he'll prosecute Steve Bannon 

The hearing comes at a tense moment for Garland's DOJ. House Democrats have been calling on him to enforce the January 6 committee's subpoenas, particularly after the House's planned vote to hold Steve Bannon in criminal contempt on Thursday. 

Asked about the possibility of prosecuting Bannon, Garland said: 'If the House of Representatives votes for referral of the contempt charge, the Department of Justice will do what it always does in such circumstances - apply the facts of the law and make a decision consistent with the principles of prosecution.'  

In his opening statement, Garland defended the Biden Justice Department's prosecution of January 6 participants' 'intolerable assault' on the US Capitol

Garland lauded prosecutors' efforts in what he calls 'one of the largest and most expansive' operations in US history, according to Garland's prepared remarks obtained by Axios

In his opening statement Garland condemned the Capitol rioters and swore to fight for civil rights

In his opening statement Garland condemned the Capitol rioters and swore to fight for civil rights

Democrats, meanwhile, are connecting violent Trump supporters' 'extremist ideology' to the increased tensions at school boards and education settings across the country. 

'The violence we witnessed that day was an intolerable assault, not only on the Capitol and the brave law enforcement personnel who sought to protect it, but also on a fundamental element of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power,' he will say.

'I have great confidence in the prosecutors who are undertaking these cases. They are doing exactly what they are expected to do: make careful determinations about the facts and the applicable law in each individual case.' 

To date roughly 650 people have been arrested in connection to the January 6 attack. The expansive investigation involves 55 out of 56 FBI field offices across the country. 

Democrats ask Garland how to 'protect' themselves after Capitol riot

 In his opening, House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) attacked the rioters themselves and took an indirect swipe at his Republican colleagues.

'This growth in extremist ideology is echoed in an epidemic of violence and intimidation directed at our health care professionals, teachers, essential workers, school board members and election workers,' Nadler said.

He claimed there was a 'broader pattern' that led to increased violence across the country - from the riot, to increased attacks against Asian Americans during the pandemic, to 'the growing threats of violence against public servants.'

'The same set of individuals have leveraged the same sorts of misinformation, stoked the same sorts of grievances and shown remarkably little interest in solving our problems,' Nadler said

Protestors storm inside the US Capitol, Washington DC, on January 6 2021

Protestors storm inside the US Capitol, Washington DC, on January 6 2021

He told Garland at the hearing: 'You must build back everything DOJ lost under the last administration.'  

Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) told Garland he was harassed the day after the Capitol riot, but was told he couldn't file charges because no laws were broken.

'Mr. Attorney General, I'm trying to figure out some clear lines here. How do we as elected officials protect ourselves, are we left to conceal weapons? What is it exactly that we need to do?' he asked.

'I'm an elected official, but where does the First Amendment stop and the threat of serious bodily injury come into play?'

Garland said the courts have been 'clear' that threats of that nature are not protected by the First Amendment. 

'Anger, getting up in your face, those things are protected,' he said. 'People can argue with you, people can say vile things to you, people can insult you - I'm sorry to say this, it doesn't mean I like the idea...but the First Amendment protects vigorous argument.'

Republican accuses Garland of a double standard 

Rep. Greg Steube held up images from the Capitol riot and last week's climate change protest and demanded that Garland condemn both as domestic terrorism

Rep. Greg Steube held up images from the Capitol riot and last week's climate change protest and demanded that Garland condemn both as domestic terrorism

Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) accused Garland's Justice Department of a double standard in its prosecution of January 6 rioters and climate change protesters who attempted to occupy the federal Interior Department building last week.

He held up images of both situations. 

When the lawmaker asked Garland to condemn both as domestic terrorists, he said he couldn't comment on specifics because he wasn't personally aware the incident took place.

'One I know the facts of, the other I don't know the facts of,' Garland said. 'I'm not going to be able to resolve a legal determination based on one picture. In the January 6 case we have terabytes of video which disclose exactly what happened there.'

Steube told Garland he was giving him an 'opportunity to set the record straight and say both of those actions, regardless of ideology, are against federal law and will be prosecuted with the full faith and credit of the Department of Justice.'

'You're refusing to do that, and that's the challenge that everyday Americans are having right now, is because they're seeing what you guys are doing to the people on January 6.'

Democrat grills Garland on why he's not prosecuting Trump 

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) demanded to know whether Garland would look into prosecuting Trump the same way his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, was charged and indicted for paying off porn star Stormy Daniels on the former president's behalf.

At time, the federal lawsuit referred to an 'Individual- 1' who Michael Cohen later claimed was Trump.

'Michael Cohen has a felony on his record and spent time in prison for paying at the direction of President Trump hush money to Stormy Daniels and another woman,' Cohen said.  'I believe it's pretty well known that Trump was 'Individual 1' as described in the indictment.'

He acknowledged that Trump couldn't be indicted while he was in the White House.

'He's no longer a sitting president. Do you believe that not looking into and indicting 'Individual 1' - equally if not more guilty than Michael Cohen - is not an abuse of equal protection under the law and an abrogation of the idea that the rule of law is principle?'

Garland wouldn't answer directly, electing to lean back on DOJ policy guidelines.

'A very important element of the rule of law is the norm of the Justice Department that we don't comment on whether we're investigating, what the status of investigations are unless and until there's a public charge,' the attorney general said.

'That's important to protect everyone, whether it be a former president, an existing president or a public official, or a private individual.'

Cohen said he would accept the answer but urged Garland to look into the possibility of prosecution.

'I believe he is equally if not more guilty, and it does seem that people get favored treatment if he is not prosecuted,' the Democrat said.