Merrick Garland delivered a rare public rebuke of former President Donald Trump‘s attempts to attack the credibility of the search conducted on Mar-a-Lago earlier this week. The attorney general delivered a somber, yet pointed statement where he essentially called Trump’s bluff by announcing that the Department of Justice has filed to unseal the search warrant and property receipt. Garland also confirmed that he personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant, which was “authorized by a federal court upon the required finding of probable cause.” The warrant was also delivered to Trump’s attorneys on the day of the search, contrary to what the former president has said publicly.
During the brief press conference, Garland defended “upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly, without fear or favor” before denouncing recent attacks on the FBI following the Mar-a-Lago search.
“I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked,” Garland said via CNN. “The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated, patriotic public servants. Every day, they protect the American people from violent crime, terrorism and other threats to their safety while safe guarding our civil rights. They do so at great personal sacrifice and risk to themselves. I am honored to work alongside them.”
In short, it was a severely damaging moment for Trump as Garland made clear that the DOJ has no problem making the search warrant public. Of course, Trump’s legal team can object, but that would fly in the face of his demands earlier in the week to release the warrant. Then again, a sense of shame has never been Trump’s strong suit.
In the meantime, the social media reactions are pouring in as folks can’t believe how the mild-mannered (and poker-faced) Garland completely rocked Trump’s whole world with his by-the-book approach:
Merrick Garland just trumped Trump.
— Christopher Bouzy (spoutible.com/cbouzy) (@cbouzy) August 11, 2022
GOP: Unseal the warrant!!
DOJ: k
GOP: wait no
— Max Steele (@maxasteele) August 11, 2022
Merrick Garland is missing a shoe because it’s in Trump’s ass.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) August 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/ReallyActivist/status/1557807920527450112
I'm not sure I would like to play poker with Merrick Garland
He called his bluff beautifully— Federico 🌊🌊🌊 (@OglyFederico) August 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/WUTangKids/status/1557807316291969024
Merrick Garland just shoved a red hot poker up Donald Trump's unimaginable ass. pic.twitter.com/sOJSeKrm2n
— Keith Van Cortlandt (@BronxyBoy666) August 11, 2022
Don't play poker with Merrick Garland this week because I guarantee he's going to unseal your hand.
— Kim in San Diego (@housesandme) August 11, 2022
Merrick Garland says "Tell Trump. I want him to know it was me." https://t.co/nOpxMKR9Wb
— That Well-Adjusted Biden Guy (@What46HasDone) August 11, 2022
Shorter Merrick Garland:
“Welcome to fuck around and find outsville. I’ll be your tour guide.”
— Angry Staffer 🌻 (@Angry_Staffer) August 11, 2022
AG Merrick Garland presser summary:
The warrant was legal. I signed off on it.
Under my watch we don’t play politics. If you come for my agents who are faithful doing their jobs, I’ll come for you.
(Drops mic).
— THEE Four-Eyed Raven (@iamJxWoods) August 11, 2022
Trump blabbed about the search of Mar a Lago to try to get out in front of the story.
However, by doing so, he gave the DOJ a justification for unsealing the search warrant.
Had Trump kept his yap shut, the warrant would have remained sealed for at least the foreseeable future.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) August 11, 2022
Merrick Garland: "Your move now bitch."
*leaves for 4pm early bird dinner* pic.twitter.com/O1k700Q3bE
— J-L Cauvin – Syracuse 4/25 (@JLCauvin) August 11, 2022
"he wouldn't stop talking about this shit so now I'm gonna too" — merrick garland
— shauna (@goldengateblond) August 11, 2022
I'm glad I'm not the person who's having to explain to Donald Trump that Merrick Garland just backed him into a corner. Whoever's doing it is gonna be COVERED in ketchup.
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) August 11, 2022
Merrick Garland, in short: pic.twitter.com/qoAXJgvm19
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 11, 2022
Dark Brandon also got a new friend. Meet Dark Merrick:
shorter merrick garland: "my transformation is complete. the era of dark merrick is nigh. all hail brandon." pic.twitter.com/GsdB5R4GHg
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) August 11, 2022
(Via CNN)