Congratulations to the Republican senators who set fire to abortion enthusiast Merrick Garland as he appeared before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has criticized the attorney general’s extraordinary inaction over the past 10 months as pro-abortion protesters harassed Supreme Court judges at their homes within the wake of Dobbs’s leaked decision, despite a federal law that prohibits “picketing or parading” near a judge’s residence.
“When the rioters raided the homes of the six Supreme Court Justices night after night, you probably did nothing,” Cruz raged.
“The Department did nothing when extremist groups equivalent to ‘Ruth Sent Us’ and ‘Jane’s Revenge’ openly staged harassment campaigns at judges’ homes. . .
“When those self same groups posted information online in regards to the judges’ places of worship, their home addresses, or where their children went, you sat back and did nothing.
“Your failure to act to guard the protection of judges and their families was an obvious results of political bias. You agree with Roe v. Wade. You disagree with Dobbs’ decision, and the Department of Justice under that president was perfectly content to refuse to implement the law and allow threats of violence.”
4 weeks after Dobbs’ leaked decision, 26-year-old Nicholas Roske was arrested with a gun outside the house of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
“He said he got here there to kill Judge Kavanaugh because he was furious with the general public opinion,” Cruz said. “Now, in fact, you are prosecuting this person for attempted murder.
“But did you bring even one case? . . against any of the protesters threatening the judges under 18 U.S.C. Section 1507. . . or has the Department of Justice decided that this law doesn’t apply if it harass judges for an opinion we don’t love?
Garland finally admitted that, so far as he knew, there was no such case against the protesters, however it was local law enforcement, not him, who decided what to pursue.
Cruz disagreed: “You have spent 20 years as a judge and you are perfectly content that judges fear for their kid’s lives. And you probably did nothing to pursue him.
Then Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri questioned Garland about different treatment of Christian pro-life activists arrested outside abortion clinics in comparison with pro-abortion activists who went unpunished after the bombing of pregnancy centers.
He cited the case of Mark Houck, a Catholic father of seven who was acquitted in January of federal assault charges in reference to an argument outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia.
Houck was arrested at gunpoint in front of his terrified family during an FBI raid.
“It is a case where a Catholic pro-life demonstrator, a father, was charged with disorderly conduct outside an abortion center,” Hawley said.
“The Philadelphia district attorney, who’s a Democrat, very progressive, declined to press charges. There was a personal lawsuit that was dismissed. In spite of everything, your Department of Justice sent 20 to 30 agents to the Houck mansion within the early hours of the morning to arrest this guy after he offered to give up voluntarily.
Garland said the FBI “disagrees” with this description of the raid.
So Hawley pulled out his easel and showed an enlarged photo of scary-looking FBI agents with long guns, ballistic shields, and bulletproof vests.
A show of strength
“Why did you send . . . a SWAT-style team to this guy’s house when everyone else refused to press charges and he offered to give up?
Garland said the local FBI “made the choice that was the safest and easiest.”
Hawley then showed a photograph of the Houck family of their Sunday attire: “Let’s take a take a look at the hardened criminals your Department of Justice has sent these armed agents to terrorize this morning.
“Here they’re at Mass. Listed here are seven children with Mr. Houck and his wife [who said] The youngsters were screaming, fearing for their lives. . .
“Do you’re thinking that it was objectively reasonable to send 20 to 30 armed agents to terrorize the Houcks?”
Garland said the FBI questioned “what number of agents, agents who were there and what their role was.”
Hawley was not fooled. “You utilize an incredible show of force with a gun, which I actually have noticed is frequently condemned by liberals. You gladly use them against Catholics and innocent children. . . and you then drag him to court and the jury acquits him in an hour. [It’s a] disgrace.”
The following item on the agenda was an intelligence memorandum issued by the FBI field office in Richmond, Virginia on January 23 advocating “the exploration of latest avenues for “developing links and sources against traditionalist Catholics,” including those that advocate the Latin Mass.”
Garland said he was “horrified” by the note and was withdrawn.
But he didn’t understand how it was written or why it was sourced from the far-left Southern Center for Poverty Law.
He also had no answer when Hawley asked, “What number of informers do you may have in Catholic churches across America?”
Garland should have known questions were coming about these FBI scandals, yet he hadn’t bothered to look into any of the circumstances.
He neither apologized nor took responsibility nor admitted wrongdoing by his department.
“You are disclaiming responsibility,” Hawley said furiously. “You might be the Attorney General of the US. You might be responsible for the Department of Justice, and yes, you’re responsible.”
But Garland and his politicized Justice Department and FBI thugs don’t care in regards to the Capitol.
We want motion, not words nearly as good as they’re, from Republicans.
Nothing will change unless Garland and FBI Director Chris Wray face real consequences. Funding cuts can be a superb start.
Truth and consequence
Life Has Consequences #1: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blames racism and sexism for her historic defeat on Tuesday.
He still refuses to take responsibility for the rising crime in Chicago, and even to acknowledge his failure.
But Windy City voters knew higher.
Don’t let the door hit you on the best way out, lady fedora.
Life Has Consequences #2: Here we thought King Charles was a hopeless wimp.
However it’s actually a silent killer.
He drove the knife so hard into the groaning Sussexes they didn’t know what was coming.
Within the midst of their “world privacy tour” (cap for “South Park”) he evicted them from Frogmore Cottage, a palace near Windsor Castle that the late Queen gave them. I do not think they’ll get that apology.