Merrick Garland on Ukraine

Attorney General Merrick Garland has made his position on Ukraine's defense clear through direct engagement and the mobilization of the Department of Justice's resources toward accountability for atrocities. His core stance is that perpetrators of war crimes will not find refuge in America, emphasizing the need to gather evidence now, even while hostilities continue, to ensure justice when the time comes. This commitment was solidified during a surprise visit to Ukraine in March 2023, where he met with the nation's president and prosecutor general to pledge support and sign agreements for information sharing regarding Russian atrocities.

This initiative is not unprecedented for the Justice Department; he appointed the former head of the post-WWII Nazi prosecution team to oversee the current effort, drawing a parallel between holding 1940s war criminals accountable and pursuing current perpetrators. Furthermore, the department has been active in enforcing sanctions, seizing over $500 million in assets from Russian oligarchs and steering some of those funds back to Ukraine. The Attorney General has repeatedly called upon private lawyers to assist in the Herculean effort required to document the damages and harms inflicted upon millions of displaced or affected Ukrainians.