Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — the two leading candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination — took different stances this week on whether the House of Representatives should vote to impeach U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over his actions, or lack thereof, while in office.
The remarks come after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that the recent allegations made by IRS whistleblowers that Garland interfered with U.S. Attorney David Weiss’ criminal investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, could lead to Garland being impeached from office.
McCarthy told Fox News on Monday: “If it comes true what the IRS whistleblower is saying, we’re going to start impeachment inquiries on the attorney general.”
Trump was asked on the “The Howie Carr Show” on Monday if he thinks that Garland should be impeached, and he declined to get involved.
“Well, I’m gonna leave that up to them,” Trump said of the Republican-controlled House. “I’m surprised at Merrick Garland, because I know he’s a liberal guy. But I thought that–, I am so surprised that he’s doing what he’s doing. I’m shocked, actually, that he’s not saying, ‘Look, I have an obligation to my country.’ And even if he did 10%, it’s earth shattering. But he’s really protecting Biden, and you can’t really protect them at this point.”
DeSantis was asked by Fox News on Tuesday if he would support Republican efforts to impeach Garland “because some Republicans believe the Justice Department has been using its resources to attack a political adversary” and he said that he would support the effort.
“Well, look, if a cabinet member’s behaving like Garland, then they’re opening themselves up to it. So, I think that they should pursue this,” DeSantis said. “I think some of the decisions that have been made or action, or lack of action, you know, are just unbelievable that that could be the case.”
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NEW: @RonDeSantis urges House Republicans to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“If a cabinet member is behaving like Garland, then they’re opening themselves up to it. I think they should pursue this.” pic.twitter.com/BzVa2Gcx1D
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) June 27, 2023