A lot is riding on the attorney general’s prosecution of January 6 insurrectionists—including whether future coup plotters think they’ll be able to get away with it.
One answer is that Garland, like many Biden officials, is an institutionalist, more committed to preserving institutions than fighting hard political fights.
Merrick Garland finally got his confirmation hearing, but the GOP spent most of the time attacking the women of color nominated to join him at the Justice Department.