For some strange reason, Merrick Garland is blocking the congressional testimony of U.S. Attorney Matt Graves. He’s a federal prosecutor but he’s also the one responsible for the crime ridden District of Columbia. James Comer already has his staff working on a subpoena.
Garland should reconsider
James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is asking Merrick Garland nicely to “reconsider” his position. There’s still time to allow Graves to appear at the hearing scheduled for May 16.
The Justice Department “declined to make him available” but the Attorney General should already know to expect a formal subpoena. That will only make things worse for him in the long run.
The hearing will be on the subject of public safety in the District of Columbia. Comer demands Garland hand Matt Graves over to explain to snarling congressional watchdogs why D.C. has such a low prosecution rate.
Here is her offense.@USAO_DC Matt Graves last week posted a video blaming courts for backlog of criminal cases. What he didn't say is how his office is fixated on Jan 6.
His lawyers just wrote a 31 PAGE SENTENCING MEMO for a trespasser who doesn't even live in DC 😂 pic.twitter.com/UZbuv9aZjj
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 1, 2023
Not appearing will only make them look worse. Mayor Muriel Bowser is also slated to appear at the hearing. The district hasn’t had such a controversial civic leader since Marion Barry.
Garland only got dragged into it because, as Washington Post notes, “much of D.C.’s criminal justice system is funded and operated by the federal government.”
That gives Graves “a unique role among U.S. attorneys across the country” because he “functions as its local prosecutor for almost all local crimes.” The citizens don’t seem to think he’s been doing a very good job.
Lame excuse not working
The lame excuse given by DOJ lawyers isn’t swaying Comer and his committee. When he got contacted by Justice Department officials in the Office of Legislative Affairs to let him know that “Graves would not be appearing for questions,” they told him why.
Their “excuse is an internal policy that generally prohibits U.S. Attorneys from testifying before Congress.” That’s bullcrap, Comer insists and wants Garland to step in and break the dispute loose. He can do what the public pays him to do or he can continue to cover for the globalist bankers who pull Joe Biden’s puppet strings but he can’t do both.
Comer called their sketchy excuse “unpersuasive and inconsistent with past precedent,” noting a U.S. attorney has appeared before Congress as recently as last year. Not only that, his committee “is well within jurisdiction to question Graves as D.C.’s local prosecutor.” That’s their job and they like doing it.
U.S. Attorney Matt Graves (left) stands with Attorney General Garland after guilty verdicts in the trial of four leaders and a member of the Proud Boys. pic.twitter.com/A89Qk6rGGJ
— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) May 4, 2023
Comer boldly warned Garland he was close to the edge of a legal “obstruction of justice” cliff. ” Comer reiterated his request that Graves testify and demanded that DOJ “cease obstructing his appearance.”
Garland has until May 11 to “reconsider.” If, Comer warns, “the Justice Department continues to prevent him from coming, the committee would have to turn to ‘compulsory‘ measures.” They will have Graves hauled into the hearing in shackles if that’s what it takes. “Mr. Graves’ unique role makes his testimony necessary to conduct meaningful oversight of the city, including and especially issues regarding crime.” They have a lot of that.
“As crime continues to spike throughout the District, Mr. Graves must be made available to provide critical information to Committee members and to inform potential legislation to remedy this troubling trend.” Garland is committing a crime, too. Obstruction of justice. They will probably have him on perjury soon. Maybe more after some of the other upcoming hearings. Let’s just say it’s generally been a bad week for the Deep State.
