Over the past two years, the FBI has taken a public optics hit, falling out of favor with millions of Americans who firmly believe that, unfortunately for the agency's legacy, it has been politically weaponized by the current administration. 

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a rare public statement defending the federal law enforcement agency, according to Breitbart.

Garland held nothing back in his defense of the FBI, calling those criticizing the agency an "attack."

The AG's comments came after reporters asked about the situation in which the FBI director stonewalled the House Oversight Committee regarding a document that allegedly details a foreign bribery scheme carried out by then-Vice President Joe Biden.

"I certainly understand"

Garland began by admitting that he's aware of the criticism that the FBI faces, and that some believe the agency picks and chooses its cases based on political motives.

"I certainly understand that some have chosen to attack the integrity of the Justice Department as components and its employees by claiming that we do not treat like cases alike," he said.

Garland added: "This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy and essential to the safety of the American people. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Garland: "Some have chose to attack the integrity of the Justice Department by claiming that we do not treat cases alike. This constitutes an attack on an institution that is essential to American democracy... Nothing could be further from the truth." pic.twitter.com/fHkHPUiNyn

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 23, 2023

"You’ve all heard me say many times that we make our cases based on the facts and the law. These are not just words. These are what we live by. They’re the foundation of the way we make these decisions," he continued.

He went on to say that he was proud of all the agencies for keeping Americans safe.

Social media reacts

Not surprisingly, it proved difficult to find anyone supporting Garland's statements. Social media torched him for defending the agency.

"So it now constitutes an attack on Democracy if you criticized unelected federal security state actors," Stephen Miller tweeted.

So it now constitutes an attack on Democracy if you criticized unelected federal security state actors.

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) June 23, 2023

Regardless of what Garland says, the FBI still has a long road ahead as far as regaining any of the reputation it once had.