Attorney General Merrick Garland insists the claim the Department of Justice (DOJ) coordinated prosecutions of former President Donald Trump is a conspiracy theory.
But, when he was given the chance to commit to debunk that theory, his answer did not satisfy Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
During a hearing on Tuesday, Gaetz said, “Mr. Attorney General, you’ve told us that it’s a dangerous conspiracy theory to allege that the Department of Justice is communicating with these state and local prosecutions against Trump.”
“You can clear it up for us right now, will the Department of Justice provide to the committee all documents, all correspondence between the department and Alvin Bragg’s office, and Fani Willis’ office, and Letitia James’ office?” he asked.
Garland responded by pointing the state and local offices are “independent offices,” but Gaetz interjected, “The question is whether or not you will provide all your documents and correspondence. That’s the question. I don’t need a history lesson.”
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“We do not control those offices, they make their own decisions…” Garland began.
But, Gaetz interrupted, “The question is whether you communicate with them, not whether you control them.”
The attorney general told Gaetz if lawmakers request the documents, the department will “respond appropriately.”
However, the Florida congressman shot back, “You come in here and you lodge this attack that it’s a conspiracy theory that there is coordinated lawfare against Trump. And then when we say fine, just give us the documents, give us the correspondence, and then if it’s a conspiracy theory that will be evident.”
“But when you say, well, we’ll take your request, and then we’ll sort of work it through the DOJ’s accommodation process, then you’re actually advancing the very dangerous conspiracy theory that you’re concerned about,” he charged.
