Former D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s pick for attorney general, said Monday that he is “very concerned” about “foreign terrorist organizations” targeting America.
Garland expressed his concerns during the first day of his confirmation hearing, where he testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham asked Garland whether he is worried “that Al Qaeda and ISIS types” will “try to hit” America again, particularly in light of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“I am very concerned that foreign terrorist organizations will try to hit us again, yes,” Garland replied. “I don’t know enough at this point about the capabilities of those two but it really does not matter which foreign terrorists – the terrible thing is the attack. As I said in my opening statement, with all of the other things the Justice Department has to do, it must always keep its eye on the ball with respect to foreign terrorist attacks.”
“I was sitting in my office – arriving in my office as the first plane … hit the [World] Trade Center, and I was sitting in my office and could see smoke rising over the Pentagon. I can assure you that this is top of mind for me,” he added, recalling the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (RELATED: What Merrick Garland’s Time As Circuit Court Judge Tells Us About How He Will Lead The Justice Department)
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Graham responded by noting that he is “very inclined to support” Garland and his confirmation in part because he believed his comments about the threat of a terrorist attack against the United States.
“I think you have a very deep understanding of the threats America faces,” Graham said. “And to my colleagues on the committee, Al Qaeda has been diminished. ISIS has been greatly diminished, but they are out there and they are trying to – they will this year, sometime, I hope I am wrong.”
Graham ended this line of questioning by saying that “it is great” to know “the potential future attorney general understands our nation is very much still under threat.”