No, Merrick Garland did not say that about Donald Trump
Since claims to the contrary are once again going viral on social media, let’s be clear: Merrick Garland has never said that prosecuting Trump might be conditional on whether it’s good for the fate of the nation, or fear of violence, etc. He’s never said anything like that. There is no reporting whatsoever that the DOJ is considering not prosecuting Trump, for any reason at all.
Plenty of talking heads are pushing this narrative, sure. MSNBC has done entire lengthy segments of late about whether the DOJ should consider not prosecuting Trump for the good of the nation. But these segments have all been purely hypothetical in nature, and not based on any actual reporting about any such thing actually happening. Unfortunately, these segments haven’t exactly been forthcoming about their own hypothetical nature.
Merrick Garland has twice publicly stated that the 1/6 probe will go all the way to the top without fear or favor. His top deputy has publicly stated the same. This is the sum total of what’s been said. Any other supposed Garland quote you see out there has been made up out of thin air, by loons whose rage toward Garland has compelled them to simply make things up.
Yet the sheer number of people on Facebook and Twitter, who are absolutely convinced that Merrick Garland has said he won’t or might not prosecute Trump due to fears about the good of the nation, is astounding. It’s also disturbing just how many people on social media are certain they’ve seen reporting that the DOJ is considering not prosecuting Trump due to these kinds of fears. Meanwhile back in the real world, no such reporting has taken place – anywhere.
