With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the validity of the 2020 election still looms large in the minds of many Americans, including U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), who asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland Wednesday if it was a crime to question elections.
The question came during Garland's hours-long testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee, where he was asked about the alleged politicization and "weaponization" of the Department of Justice against American citizens.
"Every time I'm in my district, constituents are concerned about the weaponization of government, them being selected because they happen to be conservatives," Moore said to Garland. "I think on your watch now, the DOJ actually is at mid-30s percent approval rating."
Merrick Garland's DOJ is at odds with the American people.
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) September 20, 2023
Today @JudiciaryGOP, I asked him if questioning an election was a crime in the United States. He tried to avoid providing an answer. pic.twitter.com/S6cwVOxfS4
Moore compared that to presidential candidate Donald Trump's polling, which he said has continued to rise "every time the DOJ goes after" him.
"I think the American people are starting to wake up to what's going on, and I think it's fairly obvious," Moore said.
Moore first questioned Garland about the FBI's involvement in a riot at the Capitol that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, where thousands of citizens gathered to protest the 2020 election results.
"Is it a crime in the U.S. to question an election?" Moore asked Garland.
Moore repeated several times after Garland struggled to hear the question. Garland then tried to dodge answering by claiming the question was about something specific regarding 2020.
"I think that's just general. I don't think that's specific. Elections have been questioned for decades past. Is that now a crime in America?" Moore asked again, to which Garland said it was not a crime.
"Because I questioned the election results in 2020, and there are a lot of people in America that do," Moore continued. "And they question the weaponization of government attacking American citizens. And so you, sir, have an issue with trustworthiness of the American people and with Congress at this point."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com.
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