2024-10-02 Massie JDJ Et Al To DOJ
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Breitbart News2024-10-02 Massie JDJ Et Al To DOJ
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Breitbart NewsOctober 2, 2024
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Attorney General Garland:
During your testimony before our Committee on June 4, 2024, Chairman Massie asked
you a series of questions about Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s forthcoming report on the
Department of Justice’s (DOJ) and its components’ actions before, during, and in response to the
events that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.1 In response to these questions, you
testified that Inspector General Horowitz is “independent” and “the determination of the release
of Inspector General reports is up to the Inspector General.”2 You acknowledged that the Justice
Department “give[s] them independence” because “Congress demands that we give them
independence.”3 We write to remind you of your commitment.
Last week, Inspector General Horowitz testified before the Select Subcommittee on the
Weaponization of the Federal Government that his January 6-related report was in draft form and
pending classification review with the Department.4 As Attorney General, you speak for the
entire Department and we appreciate your commitment that DOJ will not attempt to exert control
over Inspector General Horowitz with respect to this report. We expect that neither you nor
anyone at DOJ will prevent Inspector General Horowitz from releasing this report in his
1
Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice Hearing Before the H. Comm. on the Judiciary, 118th Cong. at 76-77
(Jun. 4, 2024).
2
Id.
3
Id. at 77.
4
Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, Hearing Before the Subcomm. on the Weaponization of
the Fed. Gov’t, 118th Cong. (Sep. 25, 2024), https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-
weaponization-federal-government-11
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
October 2, 2024
Page 2
preferred manner and on his preferred timeline. As you stated on June 24, you cannot “stop
[Inspector General Horowitz] from doing what the law requires.”5
Accordingly, if you or any of your subordinates, associates, deputies, or agents within the
Department act to delay or interfere with the release of this report, Congress will hold you
accountable. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Thomas Massie Jim Jordan
Chairman Chairman
Subcommittee on the Administrative
State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
Ben Cline Chip Roy
Chairman Chairman
Subcommittee on Responsiveness and Subcommittee on the Constitution
Accountability to Oversight and Limited Government
Andy Biggs Victoria Spartz
Chairman Member of Congress
Subcommittee on Crime and
Federal Government Surveillance
Barry Moore Dan Bishop
Member of Congress Member of Congress
5
Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice Hearing Before the H. Comm. on the Judiciary, 118th Cong. at 77
(Jun. 4, 2024).
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
October 2, 2024
Page 3
Harriet M. Hageman Matt Gaetz
Member of Congress Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
The Honorable Jerrold Nadler, Ranking Member
The Honorable Lou Correa, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Administrative
State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
