Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday launched into a screaming tirade at Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Oversight hearing. The Canadian-born Republican was angry that the Department of Justice was not in the process of prosecuting protesters who marched in front of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home over his ruling on Roe v Wade.
“As you know, those threats finally materialized with Nicholas Russki, a 26-year-old man from California who traveled across the country, was arrested outside the home of Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh, armed with a handgun, a knife, and burglary tools. He said that he came there to kill Justice Kavanaugh because he was enraged by the leaked opinion,” an increasingly irate Cruz said.
Cruz continued: “Now of course you are prosecuting that individual for attempted murder. But did you bring even a single case to enforce this law, or did the Department of Justice decide this law doesn’t apply it if it is harassing justices’ opinions that we don’t like?”
Garland: “When the Dobb’s draft was leaked, I did something no attorney general in the history of the department had ever done before,” said Garland. “For the first time in history, I ordered United States Marshals 24/7, to defend every residence of every justice —”
Cruz interjected: “General Garland, as a judge, you are familiar with asking counsel to answer a question.”
Garland: “I am answering.”
Cruz: “Has the Department of Justice enforced this statute? Have you brought a single case against any of the protesters threatening the justices under 18 USC section 1807? Have you brought even one?”
Garland: “You asked me whether I sat on my hands. Quite the opposite. I sent 70 U.S. Marshals to defend –”
Cruz (interrupting again): “Let me try again: has the Department of Justice brought even a single case under the statute? It is a yes or no check. It’s not bringing a speech about the other things you did.”
Garland: “The job of the United States Marshals is to defend the lives —” Garland said before being cut off, noting that the Marshals are the ones tasked with defending the Supreme Court Justices.
Cruz (Shouting): “The answer is no? Why are you unwilling to say no? The answer is no! You know it’s no! Everyone in this hearing room knows that it is no! You are not willing to answer this question! Have you brought a case under the statute?”
Garland said that the Marshals make the determination on whether to make arrests on the scene.
Watch the heated exchange below.
