Garland restricting DOJ contact with White House officials

United States Attorney General Merrick garlandMerrick GarlandBriahna Joy Gray: Supreme Court’s ‘workaround’ for Garland’s daughter’s day school not ‘available to all’ Biden administration slammed for report not extending confinement to home for prisoners Lawmakers introduce bipartisan Free Britney Act MORE Wednesday released new guidelines on communication between the Justice Department and the White House, limiting the types of situations in which DOJ officials will speak to members of the administration.

“The success of the Department of Justice depends on the confidence of the American people,” Garland wrote. “This trust must be earned every day. And we can only do this through our adherence to long-standing ministerial standards of independence from inappropriate influences, the principled exercise of discretion, and the treatment of similar cases alike. “

According to Garland’s memorandum, the DOJ will not advise the White House on “ongoing or planned” law enforcement investigations, unless it is deemed important to “the performance of the president’s duties and appropriate from a law enforcement perspective “.

If such communication occurs, it will initially occur between only the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General and the President’s Legal Advisor or Deputy Legal Advisor in order to isolate DOJ staff from “inappropriate influence.”

Requests for legal opinions from the White House should also be made through these parties.

Garland’s memorandum acknowledges, however, that it is “extremely important” to have clear communication between the DOJ and the White House regarding foreign relations and national security, and communication with security officials. country will not be subject to the detailed limitations. in its guidelines.

In announcing his appointment from Garland to the post of Attorney General, President BidenJoe Biden Biden Says Wages Will Need To Raise To Fix Hiring Problems Caitlyn Jenner Pledges To Back Trump If He Makes Another White House Offer Biden: Republicans Who Say Democrats Want To Fund Police Lies MORE swore he would keep the DOJ independent from the White House, marking a change from the old President TrumpDonald TrumpCaitlyn Jenner vows to back Trump if he makes another White House offer Biden says he doesn’t want voting rights ‘wrapped up’ in filibuster debate The Club for Growth’s attacks Cheney in commercial, compares her to Clinton MORE, who has often pressured his attorneys general to look into personal blood feuds.

“As Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti noted when issuing the department’s first White House communications memorandum in 1979, these guidelines are not intended to prevent the department from legitimately communicating with the administration,” Garland wrote. . “Rather, they are intended to route communications to the appropriate managers so that communications can be adequately reviewed and acted upon, without the appearance or reality of improper influence.”