Garland’s nomination progresses out of committee

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The vote was 15-7 with all Democratic senators and four Republicans in favor of the candidate.

Garland, the former Chief Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, has been praised by members on both sides for his intelligence and integrity. At his nomination hearing last month, he pledged to “repel any effort by anyone” to politically influence the Justice Department’s investigations, and that his first priority would be to fully prosecute the “heinous” crimes committed during his appointment. of the attack on the United States Capitol in January. 6.

“He is a man of extraordinary qualifications,” Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said on Monday. “His life has been devoted to public service and to the advancement of the values which are essential to the functioning, integrity, independence, loyalty to the rule of law and a commitment to justice. equal for all.

Garland will face politically charged questions at the Justice Department, including how to handle a federal investigation into Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and whether the DOJ should play the role of the former president. Donald Trump in the riot on Capitol Hill. Garland also said during his hearing that he had “no reason to believe” that Special Advocate John Durham “should not remain in place” to complete his investigation into the FBI investigation into Russia.

Garland also said he had not spoken to the president about his son’s case. Delaware federal investigators have looked at several financial issues, including whether Hunter Biden broke tax and money laundering laws in the course of doing business in foreign countries.

“The President made it clear in every public statement before and after my appointment that decisions regarding investigations and prosecutions would be left to the Department of Justice,” Garland said. “That was the reason I was ready to take this job.”

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, backed Garland, calling him an “honorable man” with a “big job” ahead of him to maintain the integrity of the department.

“It will be up to him to prevent the Department of Justice from transforming into the Department of Social Justice,” Grassley said. “I take him at his word that it’s not what he wants.”

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was one of seven Republicans to oppose Garland’s nomination. He argued that Garland was unwilling to answer questions about guns, immigration and other policies, and would not agree to an in-person meeting. Cruz said the panel vote would set a precedent where an attorney general candidate could “essentially refuse to answer all questions” and the Senate majority would always confirm that. “It’s a precedent that I predict will come back to haunt this committee,” said Cruz.

Durbin stated that Garland answered all of Cruz’s 127 written questions and offered to meet Cruz about Zoom due to the health issues related to the pandemic.

In March 2016, then-President Barack Obama appointed Garland as a Supreme Court justice. Senate Republicans blocked his nomination, saying the public should vote for the next president to decide on the life nomination. Yet in September 2020 then-President Donald Trump appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court and on October 26, about a week before election day, she was confirmed by the Senate controlled by the Republicans.

Prior to becoming a judge, Garland served under President Bill Clinton’s Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick and led the Justice Department’s investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Garland said during his hearing that the current threat from white supremacists is “a more dangerous time than we faced at the time.” He also gave a brief, but moving anecdote in response to a question about his family history of dealing with hatred and discrimination. Garland held back tears as he explained why it was important for him to lead the Department of Justice.

“I come from a family where my grandparents fled anti-Semitism and persecution,” Garland said. “The country welcomed us and protected us. I feel an obligation to the country to repay.”

This story was updated with additional developments on Monday.

CNN’s Jeremy Herb, Ted Barrett and Kristin Wilson contributed to this report.

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