AG Merrick Garland says Justice Department has ‘no higher priority’ than investigating Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday the Justice Department has “no higher priority” than bringing to justice those who were involved in last year’s January 6th Capitol Hill riots, amid a surge in crime which continues to plaque prominent American cities.

“Those involved must be held accountable, and there is no higher priority for us at the Department of Justice,” Garland said as he spoke about the DOJ investigation into the 2021 riots.

Speaking the day before a “solemn anniversary,” Garland said the protesters who took part in the riots were “interfering with a fundamental element of American democracy – the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next.”

Garland announced the arrests of “more than 725 defendants in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia for their roles in the January 6 attack.” Garland also stated that the department has charged over 300 people with felonies. Twenty of those charged with felonies have already pleaded guilty, Garland said.

The nation’s chief law officer also touted norms established by the DOJ to investigate criminal matters, claiming that “different rules” cannot be used when determining whether someone broke the law. – READ MORE