On Wednesday, Sen. Ted Cruz pressed Attorney General Merrick Garland about how he handled the demonstrations that broke out outside the homes of several Supreme Court justices last spring in response to a leaked opinion that suggested the conservative majority was prepared to strike down abortion rights.
The Texas Republican labeled Garland inactivity and denounced the demonstrators as rioters and radicals planning harassment campaigns against the justices. Ted Cruz grilled Garland, specifically about whether the DOJ had filed any charges related to the demonstrations, citing a federal law that forbids picketing or marching outside of judge’s residences with the intention of influencing them.
Cruz claimed that the DOJ did not respond to the protests, but Garland, a former federal judge, refuted this claim by pointing out that he took historic measures to safeguard the justices and their families by appointing more than 70 US Marshals to provide constant security.
Ted Cruz frequently shouted over and cut off Garland as he sought to respond to Cruz’s questions about whether any protesters had been detained and how the DOJ enforces the law, which led to a tense exchange.
In response, Garland said that while she was not aware of any cases being brought against protestors, the US Marshals’ top responsibility is to protect the lives of the judges.
Garland initially tried to say that he instructed US Marshal’s office agents to protect each justice’s home, but he later admitted that, as far as he is aware, the DOJ hasn’t brought any other cases against those who are said to have protested in front of the justices’ homes.
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Ted Cruz: Garland Politicizes Justice Department
Cruz also brought up an incident involving Mark Houck, who is accused of assaulting a 72-year-old man in front of a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood facility. Houck was charged with breaking the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it illegal for anybody to interfere with, intimidate, or harm someone who performs abortions.
Houck recalled his September arrest and claimed that multiple SWAT team agents showed up at his home. He was eventually found not guilty by a jury and declared that he intends to sue the FBI.
Cruz claimed that Garland is politicizing the Justice Department and pursuing more aggressive legal actions against conservatives and pro-life organizations than she did against leftist organizations. Cruz mentioned the large-scale demonstrations that took place outside the houses of the conservative Supreme Court justices after the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling was made public last year.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also criticized Garland for failing to bring charges in relation to attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life organizations across the nation only minutes before the tense exchange took place.
Lee challenged Garland to explain why, despite more than 200 recorded incidences of violence against pro-life organizations in the previous year, only two people had been charged with such crimes.
Garland retorted that since infractions at abortion clinics often occur during the day and are frequently recorded, it is simpler to bring charges. According to him, nighttime is when attacks against pro-life facilities are most common.
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