Merrick Garland for FBI director? Republican senator raises the possibility with a tweet
Merrick Garland
A senator who appeared on President Donald Trump’s list of 21 possible Supreme Court nominees has suggested a new position for onetime SCOTUS nominee Merrick Garland.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, suggested Garland for FBI director in a tweet, Politico reports. ABC News and the Daily Beast are among the other publications covering the story.
Lee pitched the idea to the White House on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson. On Thursday, Lee explained his thinking in a Fox News interview.
“I think it has some advantages to it because as you point out this is someone who has a lot of bona fides as a prosecutor,” Lee said. “This is a prosecutor’s prosecutor, and he’s someone who’s got likely allies as a potential FBI director nominee in both political parties.”
Instead of a special prosecutor, @realDonaldTrump should nominate Merrick Garland to replace James Comey.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 11, 2017
Lee said he doesn’t know Garland and hasn’t discussed the idea with him. “But I would imagine that this might be a post that might interest him, and it might be a post that he could serve in very effectively,” Lee said.
Politico points out that appointing Garland as FBI chief would give Trump an opening to fill on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Trump fired FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday.
