Garland’s comments came after Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper-Jones criticized the Department of Justice for accepting a plea deal with Travis McMichael and Gregory McMichael, the two men convicted in Arbery’s murder, before the hate crimes trial was underway. The plea deal would have allowed them to serve time in federal rather than state prison.
“Even after the family stood before the judge and asked them not to take this plea deal, the lead prosecutor stood up and asked the judge to ignore the family’s cry,” she said during a press conference. “That’s not justice for Ahmaud.”
Judge Lisa Godbey Wood refused to accept the plea agreements after family members pressed to have the trial proceed. On Tuesday, a jury found the McMichaels and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, guilty of violating Arbery’s civil rights. All three men are already serving life sentences after being convicted of murder in state court last year.
Garland said the Department of Justice welcomed the verdict, but that the “only acceptable outcome in this matter would have been Mr. Arbery returning safely to his loved ones two years ago.”
When asked about the remarks from Arbery’s mother on the department’s plea deal, Garland choked up during his response.
“I cannot imagine the pain that a mother feels to have her son run down and then gunned down while taking a jog on a public street,” Garland said. “My heart goes out to her and to the family. That’s really all I can say about this.”
Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot three times and killed while jogging on February 23, 2020, in southern Georgia. Graphic video of the shooting sparked nationwide outrage over racial injustice.
“His family and his friends should be preparing to celebrate his 28th birthday later this spring not mourning the second anniversary of his death, tomorrow. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today,” Garland said.
The attorney general also vowed action from the Justice Department in instances where violent crimes are motivated by bias or hate.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Arbery’s family dedicated themselves to getting justice for their son.
“For many of us, there was never any doubt that Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan targeted Ahmaud because of his skin color,” Crump said in a statement. “But because of indisputable video evidence, disgusting messages sent by the defendants, and witness testimony, their hate was revealed to the world and the jury. We hope and demand that the severity of their crimes are reflected in the sentencing, as well.”
