JUST SAYING
BY RAUL HERNANDEZ
Thursday’s Washington Post Op-Ed: The case for Merrick Garland as attorney general.
According to E.J. Dionne’s Washington Post Op-Ed titled, “Anyone who knows Garland has a deep affection for someone who is “a sweet spirit,” as the former governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating, a Republican, nicely put it.”
The article describes Garland as being “inspirational” and having a “passion” for public service.
That is sweet.
But going down into the basement to clean up the DOJ cesspool left behind by Trump and his attorney Bill Barr will require more than sweetness and the ability to exemplify the inspirational Quote of the Day.
It will take someone with the heart of a lion to wade through Trump’s four-year, twisted version of justice t
hat Barr helped pen with assistance from other in-house, federalized shysters at DOJ.
It shouldn’t matter if a U.S. attorney general is a person of color or looks like E.T. He must be willing to prosecute criminals, including those who draw salaries from taxpayers, whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
Without a doubt, whoever is appointed as the nation’s chief prosecutor must be fiercely independent of the White House and any political party. DOJ must be transparent and accountable to the American people.
Initially, Biden’s AG must show his willingness to make tough decisions, and perhaps, begin doing so by jump-starting federal oversight of uniformed mobocracies masquerading police departments.
These are departments with cops patrolling the streets that repeatedly use minorities for target practice, terrorized Black and Hispanic communities, and engaged in wholesale civil rights violations.
Trump’s stooge, Jeff Sessions, immediately weakened or did away federal oversight after Trump was appointed Sessions as attorney general.
A 2020 Washington Post outlines how the Trump administration abandoned a way to reduce police violence.
“Pattern or practice investigations are considered one of the best ways to rein in and reform dysfunctional departments,” the article states.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/09/trump-pattern-or-practice/
One glaring reason the Garland appointment might be problematic is that Mitch McConnell might voice his strong disapproval with Garland — initially.
E.J. Dionne Jr. noted in his Washington Post op-ed:
“Unfortunately, he is best known for having been kept off the Supreme Court by the unconscionable blockade organized by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)”
But McConnell will come around with a southern-fried, molasses smile and concede that Garland is perhaps the best choice.
Why?
Guess who Trump’s Transportation Secretary is? Elaine Chao. Chao is married to McConnell. How much influence did Trump have over McConnell because Chao held that post?
Well, we’ll never know.
Hold on.
What if Biden’s incoming Transportation Secretary turns up emails that might require further scrutiny?
The New York Times had an investigative story in 2019 about questionable decisions Chao made to benefit her family:
“Ms. Chao’s office had made a series of unorthodox requests related to her first scheduled visit to China as a Trump cabinet member, according to people with knowledge of the email. Among them: asking federal officials to help coordinate travel arrangements for at least one family member and include relatives in meetings with government officials,” the NYT article stated.
Suppose Garland’s DOJ or the media finds emails and records that indicate that Chao or others under Chao’s supervision were involved in alleged crimes. Will “sweet” Garland initiate an investigation knowing that it will result in harsh criticism from Republicans crying foul?
Didn’t Mitch change his opposition to Garland’s appointment and welcome him with open arms?
Maybe, this isn’t worth pursuing or prosecuting.
Meanwhile, Biden’s administration appears to want to continue to play political patty cake with Trump’s Republican cult followers, congressional stooges, thugs, religious zealots, and traitors.
This Trump adoration and worship would make the shaved-headed Hare Krishnas at the airport blush with envy.