During a House Appropriations Committee hearing on the Justice Department’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request, Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed concerns raised by a Republican lawmaker regarding President Biden's handling of classified documents. Garland assured Rep. Ben Cline that the President has 'no impairment' and has effectively led his Cabinet and military.
Garland refrained from commenting on special counsel Robert Hur’s characterization of Biden as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,' emphasizing that it is inappropriate for the attorney general to offer personal opinions on such matters. He reiterated his confidence in the President and rejected any insinuation of impairment.
Special counsel Hur's report concluded that there would be no criminal charges against Biden following an investigation into the mishandling of classified documents related to national security.
Shifting the focus to law enforcement efforts, Garland highlighted a significant decrease in overall violent crime nationwide, with a notable 13% drop in homicides compared to the previous year. This decline in homicides marks the largest one-year decrease in over three decades, and current data suggests that this positive trend is continuing.
Garland outlined the Justice Department's budget request of $21 billion to support various agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney's offices, and key divisions within the department. The allocated funds will be utilized to combat gun violence and enhance efforts to address both foreign and domestic terrorism.
