Former President Donald Trump reacted with fury to news that the FBI authorized agents to use “deadly force” when executing the raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate. The news broke after the court overseeing his classified documents trial authorized the release of a trove of documents related to the raid in August 2023.
“WOW! I just came out of the Biden Witch Hunt Trial in Manhattan, the ‘Icebox,’ and was shown Reports that Crooked Joe Biden’s DOJ, in their Illegal and UnConstitutional Raid of Mar-a-Lago, AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE. NOW WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD OFFICE — 25TH AMENDMENT!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening.
The raid, carried out by heavily armed FBI agents who stormed the former president’s estate, was authorized by Attorney General Merrick Garland and then-FBI D.C. field office chief Steven D’Antuono.
Central to the newly released files is a directive allowing FBI agents to use lethal force against perceived threats if necessary. This authorization was part of the operation to recover classified materials allegedly retained unlawfully by Trump after his presidency.
The documents indicate preparedness for potentially violent confrontations, including scenarios involving Trump’s security detail, which consists of former Secret Service personnel. This aspect of the plan suggests an expectation of resistance, although such resistance appears implausible.
Legal commentator Julie Kelly compared the measures taken to those of a totalitarian regime. “Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary,” Kelly tweeted. She also said that, according to the released documents, FBI agents were prepared to engage Trump’s Secret Service agents in a gun battle if need be.
Oh my God
Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary.
They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks.
Gestapo pic.twitter.com/ViWahRIpTL
— Julie Kelly ?? (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
“Head of Washington FBI field office when this was executed: Steven D’Antuono. Recall who authorized the raid: Merrick Garland. The FBI risked the lives of Donald Trump, his family, his staff, and MAL guests for a publicity stunt to make it look like Trump stole national security files. People need to be arrested for this,” Kelly added in another tweet containing screenshots of some of the released documents.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.