Well, it looks like Attorney General Merrick Garland is back at it, reminding everyone just how much he loves flexing his bureaucratic muscle. On Friday, he proudly announced that his office has prosecuted nearly 1,500 Americans who dared to protest the 2020 election. That’s right, if you even think about questioning the administration of the upcoming November election, you might be the next target of Garland’s lawfare machine.

During a press briefing, Garland essentially told Americans that the prosecutions related to January 6 should serve as a warning. Raise a concern about an election, and you could find yourself in legal hot water. He didn’t mince words either. Garland boasted about how these prosecutions underscore just how seriously the DOJ takes any attempt to interfere with the “peaceful transfer of power,” a fundamental element of our democracy, or so he says.

Let’s be clear: Garland isn’t just prosecuting those who broke the law; he’s sending a message to anyone who dares to voice dissent. He boasted about the number of prosecutions—over 1,400 and counting—and the substantial number of convictions, as if he’s running some kind of twisted scoreboard.

Garland made it crystal clear: if you’re even thinking about challenging the results of an election, you better think twice. The DOJ has shown what they’re willing to do, and Garland’s warning should send chills down the spine of anyone who values free speech and the right to protest.

Richard Baris, Director at Big Data Poll, didn’t hold back when he explained why Garland’s comments are so disturbing. According to Baris, Garland’s message to half the country is loud and clear: “We’re going to steal this election, and if you try to fight us, we’ll put you in prison.” That’s not just hyperbole; it’s a stark reminder of how corrupt our system has become.

Independent journalist Julie Kelly echoed this sentiment, pointing out how DOJ prosecutors and DC judges are already sharpening their axes, ready to come down hard on anyone who dares to question the 2024 election results. She even cited Obama-appointed District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who seemed to relish lecturing a Jan. 6 protester convicted of a misdemeanor as if he were a mass murderer.

The DOJ’s actions in the wake of the 2020 election are a clear indication of their intent. Garland and his cronies have been using a federal statute to go after protesters, including a 70-year-old grandma who was simply praying. This same statute was later ruled by the Supreme Court to have been used in an overly broad manner, but the damage was already done. The message is clear: dissent will not be tolerated.

And let’s not forget how this all started. Under Garland’s watch, the DOJ targeted former President Donald Trump for his speech on Jan. 6, where he told supporters to protest “peacefully and patriotically.” Those words, which should be protected under the First Amendment, were twisted into charges of “insurrection” and “election interference.” It’s a chilling example of how the DOJ is willing to stretch the law to silence its political opponents.

Garland’s obsession with controlling elections doesn’t stop there. He’s made it his mission to undermine any attempts to secure our elections. He’s fought against voter ID laws, dismissing them as “burdensome” and “unnecessary,” despite overwhelming public support for such measures. A Pew Research study found that 81% of Americans support requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote. Yet, Garland seems to think that ensuring the integrity of our elections is a bad idea.

Most recently, the DOJ asked the Supreme Court to deny Republicans’ efforts to enforce an Arizona law requiring individuals to prove their citizenship when registering to vote. In a country flooded with millions of illegal immigrants, we’re supposed to rely on the honor system to ensure only citizens are voting. That’s not just naive; it’s downright reckless.

In key swing states like Georgia and Nevada, the message is the same: don’t you dare question the results. In Georgia, a Fulton County board member was threatened with criminal charges if she didn’t certify the election results, despite having legitimate concerns about the integrity of the process. In Nevada, state officials filed a petition to force Washoe County to certify primary race results, despite allegations of suspicious behavior.

This is the state of our democracy under Merrick Garland and his DOJ. They’re not interested in fair elections or justice; they’re interested in power, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.