Dozens of FBI agents swarmed Trump's Florida home on Monday and walked out with boxes of what, thus far, have only been identified as documents in the former president's possession that are wanted by the National Archives. At least one GOP House member has suggested the raid may have been illegal if the Bureau neglected to specifically subpoena the documents that were taken; and another has demanded answers "now" from the Justice Department, saying "this Friday would be a good time" for that.
Washington Times columnist Robert Knight says the raid is "banana republic"-type stuff. "This looks like a Third World country or worse," Knight tells AFN. "No President of the United States has been subjected to this kind of raid. The FBI is out of control."
Talk-show host Jeff Crank agrees that weaponizing the FBI and politicizing the Department of Justice – as many have characterized the raid – is a step toward becoming like a Third World dictatorship. "We are dangerously close to losing the rule of law in America," he warns.
Crank also points out the blatant hypocrisy of the raid. "You cannot help but see the stark difference in the way people are being treated here," he explains. "If you're Donald Trump, you get investigated. [But if you're] Hillary Clinton, [you] can BleachBit a bunch of documents that were under subpoena by the United States Congress?"
Many of President Trump's most ardent supporters – some of them swarming the streets surrounding Mar-a-Lago – reacted with anger at news of the raid. Knight contends millions more feel the same way, but have no public voice. "There has to be a way to put a stop to this," he says. "I don't think the American people are going to put up with much more."
He is even concerned that the real reason for the raid may be to incite those who are frustrated. "I fear that they are doing this to try to trigger another January 6 reaction – and I hope that does not happen," says Knight.
“The Biden administration’s raid on President Trump’s home is an outrageous, reckless and unprecedented abuse of power. And the American people have an urgent right to know how it happened and who is responsible.” (Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton)
Abuse of power
In an interview yesterday with AFN, Knight alluded to the political implications of the raid, saying it demonstrates that the Left sees the handwriting on the wall:
"The Democrats are working as fast as they can to wreak as much destruction as possible and point us toward a socialist country – because they know that in November a lot of them are going to be tossed out."
Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts made a similar observation in a Tuesday press release.
"The raid on Mar-a-Lago represents yet another example of the federal government weaponizing law enforcement to punish political enemies, silence critics, and send a message to those whom it views as enemies," said the Heritage leader. "The Biden administration and the DC swamp are making it very clear that they will use all the power of the state to intimidate anyone who stands in their way."
Roberts added that he views the raid as "an extension of the Left's campaign to drive a wedge" and "widen the gap" between those who have no problem weaponizing the state against its citizens – and those who are tired of being treated as second-class citizens. He then concluded with a warning similar to that voiced by Crank:
"If they think they can treat a former president this way, imagine what they think they can do to the average American."
In image above, a Secret Service agent stands outside of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. on Tuesday Aug. 9, 2022 the day after the FBI searched Donald Trump's estate. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
