Biden says 'no time to waste' on COVID relief bill

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., asked Garland if he had insight into any shortfalls of the investigation into former financier Jeffrey Epstein who died by suicide in federal custody in New York in August 2019.

"He obviously should have been vigorously prosecuted substantially earlier but I don't know the why," he said.

When asked by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., about defunding the police, he said he doesn’t believe in it.

"We saw how difficult the lives of police officers were in the body cam videos we saw when they were defending the Capitol," Garland said. "I do believe and President Biden believes in giving resources to police departments to help them reform and gain the trust of their communities,."

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Garland became emotional when discussing his motivations for confronting hatred answering a question from Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., choking up when discussing his grandparents who fled from religious persecution.

"So, you know, I come from a family where my grandparents fled anti-Semitism and persecution. The country took us in, and protected us, and I feel an obligation to the country to pay back and this is the highest, best use of my own set of skills to pay back. And so, I want very much to be the kind of attorney general that you're saying I could become," Garland said. "And I'll do my best to try to be that kind of attorney general."

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., kicked off his line of questioning by asking Garland what his position is on police-worn body cameras to ensure accountability and trust between law enforcement and citizens. Garland said he believed personally "that body cams are a very important tool to protect both officers and the citizens." He specifically noted that body cams have helped the public see what officers were enduring on Jan. 6 when Trump supporters were attacking law enforcement officers. 

Coons then asked Garland whether he believes the Justice Department has a role in working with the Congress to find solutions to spreading misinformation online and how it contributes to radicalizing domestic extremists. Garland said he didn't know of any legislation in that area but does think "that an important part of the investigation of violent extremist groups is following their activities online and getting an idea of what kind of information and misinformation is being put out."

When asked whether an independent commission into the events at the Capitol is appropriate, Garland said he believes Congress has the authority to pursue appointment of such a commission but that if confirmed he would ask that it not "interfere with our ability to prosecute individuals and entities that caused" the storming of the Capitol.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Biden's pick for attorney general, Merrick Garland, was questioned by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, about his views on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Garland cited Supreme Court precedent saying the right to bear arms in his belief is one that is "subject to some limitations," citing former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He wouldn't answer directly whether he supports "universal background checks" for all firearms owners but said that he believed it is important for checks to ensure that people like felons or other potentially dangerous individuals are not permitted to buy guns.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, used his line of questioning to raise concerns about the Justice Department being "politicized and weaponized" under the Obama Administration and cited former Attorney General Eric Holder's comments that he saw himself as a "wingman" to former President Barack Obama. Asked whether Garland viewed himself as a "wingman" to Biden, Garland said he didn't want to comment on any of his predecessors but said he "could assure you that I do not regard myself as anything other than a lawyer for the people of the United States."

 When asked about the federal death penalty, Garland said the death penalty gives him "great pause" because of the racial disparity and number of exonerations that come from death penalty cases.

"I have had a great pause about the death penalty. I am very concerned about the large number of exonerations that have occurred through DNA evidence and otherwise, not only in death penalty convictions, but also in other convictions, I think, a terrible thing occurs when somebody is convicted of a crime that they did not commit," Garland said.

-ABC News' Luke Barr