Garland sends memo warning DOJ against talking to Congress

Attorney General Merrick Garland has circulated a memo to Department of Justice personnel articulating DOJ policy that its personnel are not to communicate with Congress directly, but to go through an internal office first.

"[N]o department employee may communicate with Senators, Representatives, congressional committees, or congressional staff without advance coordination, consultation, and approval by OLA [Office of Legislative Affairs]," Fox News quoted the memo as stating. The memo only restates existing policy and does not represent a change.

"All congressional inquiries and correspondence from Members, committees, and staff should be immediately directed to OLA upon receipt," according to an existing DOJ policy manual the outlet highlighted.

The memo comes as whistleblowers have flocked to Republican elected officials with whistleblower allegations of political bias in the aftermath of the FBI's raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

Whistleblower reports allege that FBI senior officials forced their subordinates to sign false affidavits. Others have pointed to domestic terrorism probes of parents who objected to left-wing school board policies.

Prior to the raid, whistleblowers revealed several instances of alleged political bias, most prominently leveling accusations against former Washington Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Thibault, who allegedly worked to falsely discredit evidence against Hunter Biden.

Garland has insisted that DOJ policy is not "intended to conflict with or limit whistleblower protections," per Fox.