U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at the Department of Justice, in advance of the one year anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday,Jan 5, 2022.
Carolyn Kaster|Pool|Reuters
Attorney General Merrick Garland exposed the possibility that previous President Donald Trump might be prosecuted in connection with prompting theJan 6, 2021, insurrection in an unique interview Tuesday with NBC News.
“Look, we pursue justice without fear or favor,” Garland informed NBC News’ Lester Holt, when asked whether prosecuting a previous president would “arguably tear the country apart.”
“We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding Jan. 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable,” Garland continued. “That’s what we do.”
For more on this story watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt tonight at 6: 30 p.m. ET/5: 30 p.m. CT.
“So if Donald Trump were to become a candidate for president again, that would not change your schedule or how you move forward or don’t move forward?” Holt asked.
“I’ll say again that we will hold accountable anyone who is criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the transfer — legitimate, lawful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” Garland addressed.
Garland’s remarks came as the Justice Department has actually dealt with increasing pressure to act decisively following weeks of testament prior to the bipartisanJan 6 investigatory committee by previous Trump administration authorities who declared that Trump prompted the rioters who got into the U.S. Capitol which he neglected pleas of his own individuals to stop them.
