In recent comments, Attorney General Merrick Garland said former President Trump’s false claim that the FBI was prepared to kill him in the Mar-a-Lago raid was “extremely dangerous.”
Trump falsely claimed Wednesday in a fundraiser email that Biden was “locked up, loaded and ready to take me out,” a new attack on classified records found at Biden’s residence. His email also claimed Biden or the Justice Department were “authorized to shoot” Trump.
Garland disputed the accusations during a news conference Thursday.
“The allegations are false and extremely dangerous,” Garland said. “The documents referenced in the allegations are standard Department of Justice policies restricting the use of force.”
“As advised by the FBI, this is part of their standard operating plan for searches and, in fact, was used in the consent-based search of President Biden’s home,” he continued.
A statement on law enforcement protocols cited by President Trump in his email calls for the use of deadly force “only when necessary” to “pose an imminent risk of death or serious injury” to a police officer or another person. is recognized.
President Trump was not present when the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, a decision made to avoid potential conflict.
The FBI said standard procedures were followed in the search, as in all others. One of his only deviations from normal procedure was that he wore a polo shirt and khakis while police conducted searches, so he did not attract attention while at the resort.
The former president’s claims were made in an effort to deny the charges against him in the classified documents case.
Congress has contacted the Trump campaign and the FBI.
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