'Regime protects its own': Internet slams Biden as AG Merrick Garland defends himself for not censoring Robert Hur's report

Merrick Garland defended himself against criticism by the White House regarding the remarks in Special Counsel Robert Hur's report about President Joe Biden's memory lapses
UPDATED MAR 22, 2024
Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department's findings in the Joe Biden classified documents investigation by Special Counsel Robert Hur (Getty Images)
Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department's findings in the Joe Biden classified documents investigation by Special Counsel Robert Hur (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Merrick Garland defended himself on Thursday, March 21, primarily against criticism from the White House, concerning the inclusion of President Joe Biden's faulty memory in Special Counsel Robert Hur's 388-page report.

Garland defended the Justice Department's findings in the Biden classified documents investigation, stating that it would’ve been “absurd” to exclude Hur's evaluation of the POTUS's mental fitness, the New York Post reported.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)


 

During a DOJ press conference, Garland responded to a reporter's question about whether the language Hur used to characterize Biden's mental state was "appropriate" by saying, "The idea that an attorney general would edit or redact or censor the special counsel's explanation for why the special counsel reached the decision that the special counsel did - that's absurd."

What prompted Attorney General Merrick Garland to defend himself to the press?

The recent correspondence between White House Counsel Ed Siskel and Bob Bauer, personal lawyer to President Biden, and Attorney General Merrick Garland, has brought to light objections raised regarding “the multiple denigrating statements about President Biden's memory” included in Special Counsel Robert Hur's findings.

The letters argue that Hur’s comments “violate long-standing DOJ practice and policy.”

In addition, White House Counsel Richard Sauber and Bauer have also conveyed their “objections to Special Counsel Hur’s inclusion of these unnecessary and unwarranted comments in the strongest possible terms.”



 

During his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month, Hur confirmed that he was asked by Sauber and Bauer to “revise” descriptions of President Joe Biden's memory lapses before the release of his report, which defended the decision not to bring charges against the 81-year-old commander-in-chief for retention of national security material.

“They did request certain edits and changes to the draft report,” Hur told lawmakers during his testimony. 

According to reports, President Biden has expressed his dissatisfaction to his aides and advisers regarding Attorney General Merrick Garland's handling of Special Counsel Hur’s report.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)


 

Biden reportedly believes that Garland did not do enough to limit the parts of the report that referred to his declining mental abilities, which could have affected his image negatively.

Some of Biden's anonymous advisers have also criticized Garland for not personally requesting that edits be made to the report by the Special Counsel, according to Politico.

However, Garland has denied any pressure from the White House to make changes to the report or redact portions of it before its release.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 05: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces a federal investigation
President Joe Biden allegedly complained to his advisers over Attorney General Merrick Garland's refusal to censor Special Counsel Robert Hur's comprehensive 388-page report (Getty Images)

“I haven’t, no one from the White House has said that to me,” AG Garland informed reporters.

“When the president announced my nomination, he said, to me directly and then to the American public that he intended to restore the independence and the integrity of the Justice Department,” he continued, before adding, “And that he wanted me to serve as the lawyer for the American people, not the lawyer for the president.”



 

“I sincerely believe that that’s what he intended then, and I sincerely believe that that’s what he intends now,” Garland added.

Robert Hur thought a jury would view President Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," therefore he decided not to recommend charges against him.

Internet slams Joe Biden

People on X criticized the incumbent President for reportedly not taking well to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s assessment of his mental faculties.

One X user remarked, “Garland has a moment of conscience and did something right."



 

Another user claimed, "Yea if he was competent to stand trial the DOJ would actually have to try him. The regime protects its own."



 

Another user asked, "So then Joe Biden should be indicted ?"



 

One user wrote, "He can't remember major things like how his son died. How can he be President?"



 

One person wrote, "Merrick Garland is a liar. Everyone can see the two-tiered justice system," while another said, "Merrick Garland is corrupt as hell!!"



 



 

One individual tweeted, "There is no integrity at the DOJ period," while one social media user wrote, "He lies. They all lie. It’s how they survive."



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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