Trump and Florida Republicans outraged after FBI authorized to use ‘deadly force’ at Mar-a-Lago
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump and other Florida officials lashed out at a court filing that detailed how the FBI was instructed to use “deadly force” in its Mar-a-Lago raid.
The document explained how law enforcement were instructed to use “deadly force when necessary” and that agents planned to bring “standard issue weapons,” “ammo,” “handcuffs” and “medium and large sized bolt cutters.”
The raid was signed off on by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Trump took to Truth Social to address the information on Tuesday night.
“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,” he said.
“NOW WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD OFFICE — 25TH AMENDMENT!” Trump said.
The document added that agents were instructed to wear “unmarked polo or collared shirts” and keep “law enforcement equipment concealed.”
The warrant had the agents enter specific areas of the property, including a “gym,” “kitchen,” the “Former First Lady Master Bedroom Suite” and the “Child ‘s bedroom suite,” used by Barron Trump.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., expressed his strong disapproval on social media of the new details when the information went public.
“This is insane & this is what the political weaponization of our federal government looks like in real time,” Donalds said. “Joe Biden is a threat to democracy.”
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to claims made by the FBI that the use of “deadly force” is a standard protocol for raids during a Fox & Friends First interview on Wednesday.
“I’ve been part of executing multiple search warrants, nothing of this was standard,” she argued. “It was a siege by land, by sea, by air of Mar-A-Lago, there were other federal agents there, nothing about this was normal.”
“Yet we’ve heard now that there could have been medics and EMS there in case their could have been a shootout,” she added.
Bondi emphasized how if it were a serious situation, the FBI would have communicated and been on the same page with the Secret Service.
She said Mar-a-Lago is one of the most secure places in the country, outside of the White House.
