Republican lawmakers on Monday threatened to retaliate against the Justice Department after the FBI raided former President Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago, The Washington Post reports.
Trump on Monday announced news of the raid, which media reports suggest was related to 15 boxes of White House materials, including sensitive documents that had classified information, that Trump absconded with to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.
Trump said his “beautiful home” was “under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.”
“They even broke into my safe!” he complained.
“This unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,” he said. “It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024.”
The FBI would have had to present evidence of a likely crime to get a judge to sign off on the search warrant.
Trump’s PAC and the RNC quickly fundraised off the raid.
GOP vows revenge:
Republicans criticized the DOJ and vowed to take revenge if they win the House in November.
“I’ve seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said. “When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned.”
“Attorney General Garland, preserve your documents and clear your calendar,” he added.
Many Republicans called for investigations into the DOJ and FBI. Sen. Josh Hawley called for Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Chris Wray, who was appointed by Trump, to be removed.
“At a minimum, Garland must resign or be impeached,” Hawley said. “The search warrant must be published. Christopher Wray must be removed. And the FBI reformed top to bottom.”
“Defund the FBI”:
Some Trump allies who have echoed his calls of “lock her up” and defense of police had a change of heart on Monday, calling to destroy the FBI entirely.
"DEFUND THE FBI!" Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene demanded on Twitter.
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar called for the "complete dismantling and elimination of the democrat brown shirts known as the FBI."
Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini called for his state to "sever all ties with DOJ immediately."
"Any FBI agent conducting law enforcement functions outside the purview of our State should be arrested upon sight," he tweeted.
