Merrick Garland Can’t Commit to Keep Durham investigation or release report

“Today, you’ll need to be clear about what your position will be with regard to Special Counsel Durham,” Sen. Chuck Grassley said during his statement at the senate confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, President Biden’s nominee for Attorney General.

But Merrick Garland did not commit to keep Durham, instead he said that he didn’t have any information about the investigation and that among the very first things he would do is “to have to do is speak with Mr. Durham and figure out how his investigation is going.”

“I understand that he has been permitted to remain in his position, and sitting here today, I have no reason to think that that was not the correct decision,” continued Garland.

That answer led Grassley to ask for clarification if what Garland was in fact saying is that Durham would then be removed “for cause.”

“I would have to have an opportunity to talk with him,” Garland continued. “I have not had that opportunity. As I said, I don’t have any reason, from what I know now, which is really very little, to make any determination on that ground. But I don’t have any reason to think that he should not remain in place.”