Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) took a strong stand on Tuesday against the witch hunt conducted by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) against former President Donald Trump.
In a video posted on Twitter, the conservative lawmaker announced he “will be holding all Department of Justice nominees that Merrick Garland will use if confirmed, not to enforce the law impartially, which is his duty, but clearly to harass his political opponents.”
Vance declared his intent to “grind this department to a halt” until Attorney General Garland ends the practice of targeting Biden’s political opponents.
His action will result in every DOJ nominee needing to get procedural votes and confirmation votes. It halts the upper chamber from sailing Biden’s nominees through by unanimous vote.
Vance said his new protocol will not apply to nominees for U.S. marshals.
Until Merrick Garland stops using his agency to harass Joe Biden’s political opponents, I will hold all DoJ nominees. pic.twitter.com/UVRwi6Ue01
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) June 13, 2023
In a press release, the senator said Trump is only the latest figure to fall victim to a DOJ more concerned with politics than enforcing the law. “Merrick Garland’s department harasses Christians for pro-life advocacy, but allows hardened criminals to walk our streets unpunished.”
Donald Trump Jr. quickly responded with accolades for Vance’s stand. The former president’s son tweeted that the Ohio Republican is one of the few GOP senators who is unafraid to confront “Biden, Garland, and the radical left.”
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) posted “thank you!” She added that “action is the only way forward. Stop the weaponized government and hold them accountable!”
Democrats predictably recoiled in horror at the thought of a GOP senator defending the former president in this manner. One, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), complained that “congressional Republicans are using your tax dollars to act as Trump’s legal defense team.”
It should be noted that Goldman was the former lead counsel in the effort to impeach the former president.
Trump answered the charges Tuesday in his first appearance in a Miami courtroom. He pleaded not guilty to the 37 federal felony charges he faces concerning alleged mishandling of classified documents.
Charges against the Republican frontrunner for its 2024 presidential nomination include willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The White House sidestepped a question about Vance’s hold on DOJ nominees. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said only that Biden “is committed to getting our nominees through.”
