The best way for Garland to protect the Justice Department is to stop defending his predecessor

Instead, the Justice Department doubled down. Recently, its lawyers asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit against Trump and Barr for their actions in clearing Black Lives Matter protesters from a park across the street from the White House. Even though the demonstrators were peaceful, military and various police agencies used smoke bombs, tear gas, batons and horses to force them to retreat from the park so Trump, Barr and other senior officials could walk to a nearby church.