“Merrick Garland Has Been Wholly Useless,” Michael Steele Blasts DOJ Over Trump Investigations
Former RNC chair Michael Steele said he won’t support Donald Trump. | AP Photo
Former Republican National Committee Chair and current MSNBC host Michael Steele used a segment on Judge Aileen Cannon’s controversial actions to harshly criticize Attorney General Merrick Garland for his handling of the Department of Justice’s investigations into Donald Trump.
Steele’s frustration reflects mounting criticism over the DOJ’s perceived inaction on several high-profile cases involving the former president. During the discussion, Steele first condemned Cannon, describing her as “a stain on the entire judiciary” for her perceived bias in Trump’s favor. He then turned his attention to Garland, accusing him of failing to act decisively on cases involving Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and his role in the January 6 insurrection.
“I’m of the view I don’t care how you release it, just get the damn thing [Jack Smith’s report] released because we have nickel and dimed around this,” Steele said during a conversation with former prosecutor Kristy Greenberg. “Merrick Garland has been wholly useless in this process, completely useless. The most timid person at Justice, period, in the history of the organization.”
Steele’s critique extended to Garland’s reluctance to release special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion report. Mimicking Garland, Steele mocked the DOJ’s hesitance, saying, “‘Well, I don’t know if we should put this out because something may come.’”
He added with frustration, “Nothing’s coming of this because it’s all gone at 12:01 next Tuesday, next Monday!” The MSNBC host argued that Garland’s inaction has eroded public trust in the judicial process. “Citizens look at this and they go, this has been a complete cluster for the American people relative to our judicial process,” Steele stated.
He expressed concerns about the judiciary’s future under Trump, who could appoint more judges like Cannon if re-elected. “How do you restore that faith?” Steele asked. “Where do we begin to get back this idea that our judiciary, particularly since Donald Trump is going to stack it with more Judge Cannons, is impartial and a place where you can go and have those scales balanced in a way in which you can receive some justice, or that we can at least see it working?”
Steele’s remarks encapsulate the broader frustration among legal experts and political commentators who view Garland’s cautious approach as a missed opportunity to hold Trump accountable and restore confidence in the justice system.
