A video of Garland's celebratory exit from the DOJ building, where he was seen thanking the applauding staff, went viral, triggering a barrage of negative comments from his detractors.
According to The New York Post, the video was posted on Friday via X, capturing Garland's triumphant farewell. However, the response from his critics was far from celebratory. Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) was among the prominent figures who lambasted Garland's record in a scathing X post. "Merrick Garland has left @TheJusticeDept for the FINAL TIME," Donalds declared. "His DOJ attacked political opponents. His DOJ was unprecedentedly weaponized. This disgraceful era of brazen political lawfare is FINALLY OVER."
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Garland, a seasoned federal appeals court judge, was appointed attorney general in 2021 and has since been a regular target of Republican criticism. His decision to initiate an investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's handling of classified documents in 2022 was seen by many as a politically motivated move. The case was eventually dismissed by a Florida judge in July 2024. Garland even confessed to having "personally approved" a raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
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The attorney general's treatment of Catholics also drew criticism, with Republicans accusing the DOJ of "targeting people of faith." Donalds reiterated this sentiment in his post, stating, "His DOJ attacked concerned parents. His DOJ attacked religious Catholics."
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President Biden reportedly expressed regret over his choice of Garland as attorney general, according to Bob Woodward's book "War." The book suggests that Biden believed Garland was overly aggressive in prosecuting his son, Hunter.
Prominent conservatives on X also voiced their disapproval of Garland following his departure from the DOJ. Republican communications adviser Matt Whitlock described the outgoing attorney general as "one of the greatest disappointments in recent political history." Whitlock further criticized Garland, stating, "Garland went from Chief on the DC Circuit to lawless political hack for the dark money groups that controlled the Biden White House. The guy sent the FBI after parents for speaking out at school board meetings."
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Representative Kevin Hern (R-Okla) also expressed relief at Garland's departure. "Merrick Garland presided over the wicked weaponization of the federal government against the American people," Hern said. "He has caused irreparable damage to the institution. Good riddance."
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As Garland exits the DOJ, Pam Bondi, a Trump appointee, is poised to take over the role of attorney general following Senate confirmation. This transition marks the end of a contentious era in the DOJ's history and the beginning of a new chapter under Bondi's leadership.