Merrick Garland's Farewell Speech: Accusations of Political Bias in the DOJ

During his tenure, Attorney General Merrick Garland’s farewell speech spotlighted accusations of political bias within the DOJ, stirring debates over the department’s impartiality.

Garland’s Controversial Farewell

Merrick Garland’s farewell came amidst a storm of accusations. Critics saw his address as an illustration of political bias that critics claim saturated his time as Attorney General. Defending his record, Garland spoke of justice and ethics while refuting accusations that his leadership turned the DOJ into a partisan instrument. House committees had earlier voted along party lines, suggesting contempt charges if subpoena requests remained unmet.

Merrick Garland says he always “pursued justice, not politics” in his farewell speech.

Minutes later, he boasted about prosecuting 1,500 people involved in January 6th.

Just be grateful this man was never on the Supreme Court! pic.twitter.com/FoShbI0iTg

— Ben Kew (@ben_kew) January 17, 2025

Actions during Garland’s tenure, such as raids and prosecutions, allegedly showed a clear political motive. The Republican opposition labeled the probe into Trump and selective enforcement in key cases as transparently biased maneuvers. Garland’s controversial decisions spurred contentious debates in Washington, with Trump facing multiple legal challenges under a counselor appointed by Garland.

The worst, most corrupt, most anti American AG – Merrick Garland – delivers his final remarks as in a Farewell to the Department.

Good riddance. pic.twitter.com/6FobrRPyPF

— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) January 16, 2025

President Biden’s Executive Privilege

Protection of sensitive recordings sought under subpoena highlights White House involvement in shielding Garland. President Biden invoked executive privilege, blocking Republican access to crucial interview recordings linked to document handling investigations—this act aimed to deter contempt charges against Garland, safeguarding internal inquiries from political exploitation.

These controversial moves highlighted Republican claims of inappropriate DOJ practices under Garland’s helm. Detractors labeled such actions as instances of using federal mechanisms against political adversaries. Allegations of negligence were also levied against Garland, citing failures to prosecute protest cases involving Supreme Court justices.

Accusations of Partisan DOJ

Merrick Garland’s DOJ tenure drew stern criticism, with detractors alleging weaponization of the department against conservatives. The DOJ’s focus on pro-life activists and lack of action against school board protest incidents drew heated critiques. A whistleblower alleged Garland misled Congress about using counterterrorism measures on parents—a claim Garland refuted in his defense of DOJ actions.

“The same powers that enable the federal prosecutor to pursue justice also create the potential for a grave injustice.” – Merrick Garland.

Garland stressed impartiality, stating justice must remain apolitical and fair, irrespective of political or societal standing. Despite these declarations, criticisms persisted that his policies targeted voter integrity laws and heightened scrutiny on states pursuing conservative agendas.

A Legacy of Divided Opinion

Garland’s tenure at the DOJ left a mixed legacy, facing allegations of selective justice enforcement. Critics argue that actions under his authority represented a political bias toward conservative elements. His final statements promised to uphold justice without political influence, a commitment perceived ironically by those who felt victimized by his decisions.

“Our norms are a promise that we will not allow this department to be used as a political weapon. And our norms are a promise that we will not allow this nation to become a country where law enforcement is treated as an apparatus of politics.” – Merrick Garland.

Whether Garland’s promises of impartiality will resonate in future DOJ operations remains to be seen. His departure opens up further debate on how justice balances between fairness and perceived political influence.