Attorney General Merrick Garland defended his recent memo regarding violent threats against school board officials, attempting to set the record straight amid inflammatory attacks from Republicans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday.
“The only thing the Justice Department is concerned about is violence and threats of violence,” said Garland. “That’s all it’s about.”
His memo, which came out earlier this month, directed the FBI to meet with state and local leaders to discuss strategies for addressing the recent spike in physical assaults, threats and harassment reported by school board members around the country as heated debates over COVID-19 policies and lessons on racism in public schools have led to clashes between parents and educators.
Throughout Wednesday’s hearing, however, Republican senators sought to portray the memo as much more than that, accusing Garland of weaponizing the Justice Department and infringing on parents’ First Amendment rights.
