In a scathing column, Will Bunch of The Philadelphia Inquirer criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland for failing to take action against Donald Trump when it mattered most. Despite Trump being impeached twice and facing multiple indictments, Bunch argued that Garland’s slow response allowed Trump to regain power and rally his supporters.
Bunch called out Garland for waiting 20 months before investigating Trump’s involvement in the January 6th attack, allowing the former president to rebuild his political momentum. “A democracy that tolerates a demagogue without justice isn’t truly free,” Bunch wrote, pointing to Garland’s inaction as a key moment where justice was denied.
Biden’s decision to appoint Garland instead of someone like Doug Jones, known for prosecuting hate crimes, was also slammed. Bunch said Biden misjudged the situation, assuming Trump would fade away. Instead, Trump’s influence grew stronger, and the country watched as Garland struggled to act.
Bunch didn’t hold back, claiming Garland’s indecisiveness hurt not just the justice system but democracy itself. He even drew a comparison to Neville Chamberlain, the British leader who is remembered for his appeasement of Nazi Germany before WWII.
In the end, the damage was done: Trump was convicted in a single case but still entered office with broad legal protections. Bunch’s message was clear—Garland’s delays might be remembered as one of the biggest missed opportunities in American history.
