U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said he is concerned about the country's future following the political prosecution of former President Donald Trump. Moore commented Tuesday while addressing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland during a House Judiciary Committee on concerns with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
During the hearing, Garland was asked about many issues, including border policy, the drug crisis and terror threats. However, many of the questions and comments from Republican members were about Trump.
Moore pointed out that former Special Counsel Jack Smith's co-workers had voiced concerns about his ethics and “overzealous” prosecution history. That, along with the facts of the Trump case, is why Moore said his constituents are concerned about the weaponization of the government.
When Garland suggested that saying the word “weaponization” is what is driving concern, Moore used examples of possible overreach, including conclusions from the Durham report that the FBI knew the Democratic National Convention started the rumors about Russian collusion but investigated Trump anyway.
“Do you think maybe [it’s] those kind of things?” Moore asked Garland. "Maybe impeaching him twice, maybe arresting him, maybe raiding his home. But for the first time ever, we've actually indicted a president. Do you think maybe those are more the reason that people are starting to lose trust in the justice system than maybe anything we're saying here on the Hill?”
Garland attempted to remove himself from any politically motivated executive and judicial moves against Trump.
Moore said it was clear the people of America were concerned after Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts. He said the nearly $200 million in donations to the Trump campaign following the conviction was proof of that.
“It's not us saying it here, [we’re] not [saying] ‘the weaponization of government’ here,” Moore continued. It's the grassroots of America asking us those very questions. When you convict a man, or at least try to convict a man and charge a man, and they donate $200 million in 48 hours, sir, they're sending a signal.”
“They have lost all trust in this system,” he continued. “ … It concerns me for this country and certainly for the future of the direction of the Department of Justice.”
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