{"id":14530,"date":"2023-09-20T18:23:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T18:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prosfunds.com\/politics\/takeaways-from-the-combative-house-judiciary-committee-hearing-with-attorney-general-merrick-garland\/"},"modified":"2023-09-20T18:23:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T18:23:23","slug":"takeaways-from-the-combative-house-judiciary-committee-hearing-with-attorney-general-merrick-garland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prosfunds.com\/?p=14530","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways from the combative House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General Merrick Garland"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_0A133ED0-CD3C-B785-E781-B3A63A716639@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      House Republicans and Attorney General Merrick Garland clashed Wednesday at a testy hearing that offered a preview of the coming Republican impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden focused on allegations surrounding his son, Hunter Biden.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_6FE3C432-9A94-E29C-2AE5-B3A63A7D32F0@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Judiciary Committee Republicans peppered Garland with questions about the Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden, charging that Garland and the special counsel investigating the case, David Weiss, were doing the bidding of the Bidens by offering Hunter Biden a plea deal that fell apart amid scrutiny from a judge.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_9CDF306D-39C2-AD4E-843D-B3A63A84AE2F@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland forcefully pushed back against the criticisms, saying he did not interfere in the investigation and that Weiss was given all the resources he asked for in the probe. He repeatedly declined to engage on specifics of the probe, however, frustrating the Republicans.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_E81C3F3F-D085-7F07-9D58-B3A76424FC07@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      He also didn\u2019t engage in GOP attacks against special counsel Jack Smith\u2019s investigations into former President Donald Trump.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_3866FD69-2356-2A32-03BF-B3A63A8CDA6A@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Here\u2019s what to know:\n  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/paragraph_0B473876-0BF7-6508-FA39-B3A77F2645BA@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"republicans-attacks-on-garland-preview-impeachment-inquiry\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n    Republicans\u2019 attacks on Garland preview impeachment inquiry<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_0C160507-BC75-A0F8-C8A0-B3A63A970984@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Republicans grilled Garland over the Hunter Biden probe, criticisms that offered a preview of their impeachment inquiry focused on Hunter Biden\u2019s business dealings \u2013 and Republicans\u2019 efforts to tie them to the president.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_F71B915B-E801-F52C-1599-B3A63AA27F62@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, one of the three committee chairs spearheading the impeachment inquiry, accused the Justice Department of not prosecuting Hunter Biden over the tax years when Hunter Biden was on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_D9A144E6-6C7A-C7C6-AE6A-B3A63AABCA4A@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Jordan claimed that Hunter\u2019s work on Burisma was related to Joe Biden and the then-vice president\u2019s demand that Ukraine fire its prosecutor general \u2013 even though Biden was carrying out bipartisan US policy that the prosecutor was not doing enough to prosecute corruption, including at Ukrainian companies like Burisma.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_1B4502BD-8B3B-CA0C-5A6F-B3A63AB3DB53@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cThe fix is in,\u201d Jordan said. \u201cThe fix is in. Even with the face-saving indictment last week of Hunter Biden, everyone knows the fix is in.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_EACBE56F-F491-10D0-3106-B3A63ABDE0EB@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, questioned Garland over Hunter Biden\u2019s art sales, while pointing to testimony from Hunter\u2019s business associate Devon Archer that when Hunter Biden worked for Burisma and other clients, he was \u201cselling the appearance of access\u201d to his father.\n  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/paragraph_4380550A-518D-D433-C500-B3A863A83017@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"garland-stands-firm-i-did-not-interfere\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n    Garland stands firm: \u2018I did not interfere\u2019<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_23B32DD9-27AB-D270-DA67-B3A63AD66407@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland rejected allegations from Republicans and an IRS whistleblower that the Hunter Biden investigation was tainted by politics, and that he did not interfere with the probe in any way.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_E5FC757D-C017-63C0-D39E-B3A63AE7C705@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cI\u2019m going to say again, and again, if necessary, I did not interfere with, did not investigate, did not make determinations\u201d on the Hunter Biden case, the attorney general said.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_03A33FFF-0D08-7ABF-1BB1-B3A63AF395F5@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      In his opening statement, Garland rebuked congressional Republicans, saying, \u201cI am not the president\u2019s lawyer. I will also add that I am not Congress\u2019 prosecutor.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_CB3E9804-01B9-50FE-55EE-B3A63B01E694@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Under questioning, Garland didn\u2019t go after the Republicans questioning him, but he disputed allegations that US attorney-turned special counsel Weiss was unable to charge Hunter Biden anywhere in the country that he wanted to, and not just in Delaware.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_6411D4A4-251D-FA28-09F7-B3A63B0F5B94@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cI\u2019m not going to get into the internal deliberations of the department,\u201d Garland said, adding that he \u201cmade clear that if (Weiss) wanted to bring a case in any jurisdiction, he would be able to do that.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_F0A09A2E-646C-6B5D-9E55-B3A63B1D63C4@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland also said claims that the process to charge Hunter Biden in a different district were cumbersome were \u201cnot true.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_B9F5F113-DB41-FE22-D9B9-B3A63B2CA689@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cAll I have to do\u201d is sign an order, Garland said. \u201cHe had the authority because I promised he would have the authority.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/paragraph_CBFA1AE6-7CCB-BE88-5CEF-B3A95D324F2A@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"garland-leans-on-trumps-appointment-of-hunter-prosecutor\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n    Garland leans on Trump\u2019s appointment of Hunter prosecutor<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_8CCC8B72-478F-6497-249A-B3A63B45314F@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Over and over, Garland relied on the same refrain: Weiss had been appointed by Trump, and he left Weiss in charge after taking office.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_50471C59-F413-9534-CE83-B3A63B5F73C2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cI promised the Senate when I came before it for confirmation that I would leave Mr. Weiss in place and that I would not interfere with his investigation,\u201d Garland said.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_A5E9BBD6-4058-C292-1AB8-B3A63B72CFE4@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Weiss was appointed by Trump as the US attorney for Delaware, and began the investigation into Hunter Biden in 2018. When Biden took office, he left Weiss in place so that the investigation could continue.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_254FA500-BF88-D9D0-8FCD-B3A63B862F97@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      When Garland was pressed by Republicans on details of specific elements of the investigation, he pointed back to Weiss, saying those were questions he could answer. Garland also noted that Weiss is expected to testify before the panel next month, saying that lawmakers would have the chance to ask him questions directly.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_2D8E1F80-0BC8-21AE-28D9-B3A63B9A1E12@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cI have intentionally not involved myself in the facts in the case, not because I\u2019m trying to get out of responsibility, but because I\u2019m trying to pursue my responsibility,\u201d Garland said.\n  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/paragraph_08E3F146-23E4-A60C-F8CC-B3A99B3E2D78@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"but-garland-doesnt-say-why-weiss-was-appointed-as-special-counsel\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n    But Garland doesn\u2019t say why Weiss was appointed as special counsel<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_B21CC61A-FD68-4E2D-BB2B-B3A63BBB1598@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      After Hunter Biden\u2019s plea deal fell apart this summer, Weiss requested and was granted an appointment as special counsel last month. Weiss indicted Hunter Biden on gun charges last week. (Hunter Biden has said he intends to plead not guilty.)\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_61ED43F0-EDAC-3866-FB15-B3A63BE04FBF@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland was questioned repeatedly about why the appointment came when it did, more than four years into the investigation into Hunter Biden.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_043A5DF5-1740-FA37-1FAF-B3A63BF9D91A@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Republicans contended that it didn\u2019t matter that Weiss was appointed by Trump \u2013 claiming the plea deal he negotiated that was rejected by a judge showed he could not be trusted to properly investigate the case.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_A4338B1B-2EE6-0440-26D3-B3A63C14629D@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland would not comment on specifics behind the appointment, however, other than to say Weiss made the request.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_FE344A9B-6DDB-B569-A78E-B3A63C2FD4A6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cMr. Weiss asked to be made special counsel. I had promised that I would give him all the resources he needed. I made him special counsel,\u201d Garland said.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_C0E0E670-65C3-F72F-00F0-B3A63C5020D6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland\u2019s answer left Republicans unsatisfied.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_BFA9CB3A-574F-E68F-F5F4-B3A63C729F95@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cSomething changed,\u201d Jordan alleged, questioning why Weiss needed special counsel authority to charge when Garland said he already had all authorities he needed.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_78CFDCD6-9EF4-0867-BB99-B3A63C96C056@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cIt\u2019s a simple question. If he already had it, why does he need it?\u201d Jordan said.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_22EEE7D0-DC1D-70A3-71DA-B3AC07B8D5AD@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland said that Weiss will be able to testify in the future: \u201cYou will at the appropriate time have the opportunity to ask Mr. Weiss that question.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_63965848-8ECD-13E3-1245-B3A63CCEC88D@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      The back-and-forth questioning often gave Garland a bit of a breather when Democrats questioned Garland, with questions that were teed up to defend the Hunter Biden investigation as well as the special counsel\u2019s investigations into Trump.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_1AB6227C-C557-9A51-4C31-B3A63D03F675@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland was asked by Rep. Adam Schiff about Trump\u2019s comments on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press\u201d that the charges he\u2019s facing from special counsel Smith in the classified documents and election interference investigations were \u201cBiden political indictments,\u201d and that Biden \u201csaid to the attorney general, \u2018indict him.\u2019\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_37443790-9451-6CDC-FD80-B3A63D290ED3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cWas [Trump] telling the truth or was he lying when he said the president told you to indict him?\u201d Schiff asked.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_DC39E2FC-F5C1-1B93-0276-B3A63D506CF4@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cNo one has told me who should be indicted in any matter like this, and the decision about indictment was made by Mr. Smith,\u201d Garland responded.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_EC2C4306-342F-A1B1-AFA2-B3A63D793A89@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Democrats also tried to get Garland to weigh in on questions over the Supreme Court and ethics, which he declined to do, and asked him to explain how disastrous it would be if the FBI was defended \u2013 a shot at House Republicans who have called for cuts to the FBI\u2019s funding in light of the Trump indictments.\n  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/paragraph_2574D580-0D10-F7D6-39F4-B3AFB536679B@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"garland-objects-to-question-about-religious-discrimination\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n    Garland objects to question about religious discrimination<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_69DD74DF-47AF-0B79-C2C9-B3A63DBB0228@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      One of the most heated exchanges Wednesday occurred when Garland was questioned over whether the Justice Department, under his leadership, was improperly targeting Catholics because of their religious beliefs.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_F2A85008-AA9E-4804-F990-B3A63DFF4AAC@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland, whose family fled antisemitic persecution in Eastern Europe, fiercely pushed back against the allegations when he was asked by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Republican, whether \u201c\u2018traditional Catholics\u2019 are violent extremists?\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_EADF1D2B-1A91-59F8-0C31-B3A63E2E5DB3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      The accusation stems from an FBI field office memo issued earlier this year that seemed to suggest the FBI was targeting \u201cradical traditionalist Catholics.\u201d The memo, which used a designation from the Southern Poverty Law Center to flag an eccentric Catholic group, was almost immediately pulled and quickly disavowed by FBI and DOJ leadership, including Garland himself.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_49C9ADE5-DE0F-352D-F820-B3A63E607BBA@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Garland took exception to the question.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_0AECCC56-9D79-620C-3AF5-B3A63E93ACC2@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cThe idea that someone with my family background would discriminate against any religious background is so outrageous, so absurd, that it\u2019s hard for me to even answer your question,\u201d shouted Garland, his voice audibly shaking.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_5AD61766-D89A-E578-CC4A-B3A63EC878EE@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cIt was your FBI that did this,\u201d Van Drew shouted back. \u201cIt was your FBI that was sending\u2026 undercover agents into Catholic churches.\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_D0014B16-699C-3ED5-AB73-B3A63EFE962E@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cBoth I and the director of the FBI were appalled by that memo,\u201d Garland said.\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_81FF2511-703B-4A51-08E4-B3A63F1D2C4E@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      Van Drew repeatedly interrupted, asking: \u201cAre they extremists or not?\u201d\n  <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/paragraph_8AB52F70-219A-6B13-70A3-B3A63F3DA386@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n      \u201cCatholics are not extremists, no,\u201d Garland said, shaking his head.\n  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/09\/20\/politics\/takeaways-merrick-garland-hunter-biden-hearing-impeachment\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Republicans and Attorney General Merrick Garland clashed Wednesday at a testy hearing that offered a preview of the coming Republican impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden focused on allegations surrounding his son, Hunter Biden. Judiciary Committee Republicans peppered Garland with questions about the Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden, charging that Garland and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14530","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Takeaways from the combative House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General Merrick Garland | Prosfunds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"House Republicans and Attorney General Merrick Garland clashed Wednesday at a testy hearing that offered a preview of the coming Republican impeachment\" 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