According to court filings recently unsealed by Judge Eileen Cannon in the Florida Trump Papers case, FBI agents were authorized to use “lethal force” if necessary to seize suspected classified documents during the Mar-a-Lago raid.
The filing revealed that there was an “operational order” that included a “statement of policy” regarding the “use of deadly force” to seize documents at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion. Ta.
As journalist Julie Kelly first pointed out, “Department of Justice law enforcement officers may use deadly force if necessary.”
A ton of new disclosures on the classified documents scandal. I’ll post as many as I can (this is the end of my training) but this is mind-blowing.
FBI Authorizes Use of Deadly Force at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/f0lR6UifAH
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
The authorization to use lethal force drew shock and anger from former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
President Trump posted on Truth Social:
WOW! I just came out of the Biden witch hunt trial in Manhattan, “The Ice Box,” and was shown a report showing that crooked Joe Biden’s Department of Justice authorized the FBI to use lethal force in the illegal and unconstitutional Mar-a-Lago raid. Now we know for sure that Joe Biden is a serious threat to democracy. He is mentally unfit to hold public office – 25th Amendment!
The FBI issued a statement claiming it followed “standard protocols.”
“The FBI followed standard procedure in this search, as it does with all search warrants, which include standard policy statements limiting the use of lethal force. No one ordered any additional steps to be taken, and there were no deviations from the standard in this matter,” the statement said, according to ABC News.
NEW: The FBI issues a rare statement directly responding to this attack by President Trump and his allies.
It said “standard procedures” had been followed, adding: “No one ordered any additional measures to be taken and there were no deviations from standards in this matter.” https://t.co/OLQMHXojXI pic.twitter.com/jUDef7fyBY
— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) May 21, 2024
But conservative radio host and former police officer Dan Bongino called the allegations “bullshit.” He posted on X:
This is a really big problem. Otherwise, don’t believe the bullshit.
It was not standard operation. The MAL raid was an unprecedented action with great potential for chaos, whitewashing and conflict. This included competing stocks between federal agencies (FBI and USSS) with equal legal recourse to disrupt the activities of the other.
Anyone who says otherwise is either stupid or pretending to be stupid. In my overseas operations for the USSS, I have done more deconflictions with the Russians than I have done with the FBI search warrants at MAL.
Only an idiot would use the excuse “this is standard paperwork.” Try filling out “standard paperwork” while executing a search warrant on the White House in a cocaine case and you’ll see what happens. Wake up.
This is totally a big deal. Otherwise don’t buy the bullshit.
It was not standard operation. The MAL raid was an unprecedented action with great potential for chaos, whitewashing and conflict. This included competition for stocks between federal agencies (FBI and…).
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) May 22, 2024
Conservative commentator Mike Cernovich argued that standard procedures don’t apply to former presidents who are under Secret Service protection.
“It’s very suspicious to see people acting as if this was a normal attack and normal policies apply,” he told X.
We all know this is standard in cases not involving former presidents under Secret Service protection.
It’s totally sketchy to see people acting as if this is a normal raid and normal policies apply. https://t.co/JryphU90Tv
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) May 21, 2024
The filing also notes that FBI agents were given instructions on what to do if Trump arrived at Mar-a-Lago.
“If FPOTUS arrives at MAL, FBI MM EM and OSC are ready to engage FPOTUS and USSS security teams.” He also instructed FBI agents on what to do if Trump’s Secret Service team “resisted” or interfered with “FBI timelines or access.”
The filing also suggests that FBI agents were preparing to search each guest room.
oh my god
Armed FBI agents confronted Trump, prepared to engage with the Secret Service if necessary.
They were going door to door to intimidate MAL guests and try to get their locks picked.
Gestapo pic.twitter.com/ViWahRIpTL
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
The FBI also sent medics to the scene and identified local trauma centers in case anyone was “injured” during the raid.
The FBI sent a medical team to the scene and identified a local trauma center for those “injured” during the attack.@JudiciaryRepublican pic.twitter.com/vOwlZPUsfb
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
Kelly noted that Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland had authorized the attack, which could have ended in a deadly confrontation.
Below is the Instructions for Use of Deadly Force attached to the FBI’s Operation Instructions.
The head of the FBI’s Washington field office when this was carried out: Steven D’Antuono.
Remember who authorized the attack: Merrick Garland
The FBI put Donald Trump, his family, and his life at risk… pic.twitter.com/XHHLDYqWgV
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
Mike Davis, a legal expert and founder of the Article III Project, said Garland carried out the Mar-a-Lago attack knowing that the use of deadly force was “standard procedure.” He argued that approval would “make things worse for Mr. Biden and Mr. Garland.”
“Even worse is that Biden and Garland approved the attack on Trump knowing that lethal force was ‘standard protocol,'” he posted.
“Standard protocol”?
This makes things even worse for Biden and Garland.
Mr. Biden personally waived Mr. Trump’s claims of executive privilege.
Mr. Garland personally authorized this unprecedented FBI raid.
As for the presidential records, President Trump was authorized to possess them under the Presidential Records Act.
meanwhile… https://t.co/uyz6JxIvjc
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) May 22, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said the authorization to use deadly force was “grounds for impeachment” of FBI Director Christopher Wray and Garland.
“Mr. Trump and his team were cooperating with the FBI all along. Was deadly force authorized because of the Biden dossier? They were going to shoot the Guard and then shoot President Trump, Melania, and Barron as well. Is it?”
She also criticized the Justice Department, the FBI, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for funding the FBI’s new building.
“Speaker Mike Johnson fully funded the Department of Justice and the FBI and new buildings and tied our hands to hold them accountable. We have the fiscal power and Johnson handed it over to Chuck Schumer. All of this is unacceptable.”
This is grounds for impeachment against Mr. Wray and Mr. Garland.
Trump and his team were cooperating with the FBI throughout.
Was lethal force authorized against Biden over his documents?
Were they going to shoot the SS and then President Trump, Melania, and Barron?
Fully funded by Chairman Mike Johnson… https://t.co/7UQNwd0LD6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 21, 2024
U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) called Biden a “threat to democracy.”
Biden’s FBI authorized the use of lethal force during the Mar-a-Lago raid.
Biden is a threat to democracy. https://t.co/bgKKAf4G9Z
— Jim Banks (@Jim_Banks) May 21, 2024
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has suggested he may call Garland to testify before the Senate.
The Attorney General may come to Congress and explain all of this to the American people under oath. https://t.co/y68qbvhe4V
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 21, 2024
The Justice Department has authorized an FBI raid to search for classified documents that President Trump allegedly took to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.
Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted President Trump on 37 charges, including knowingly retaining national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Mr. Trump has maintained his innocence.
WATCH: Rubio: Biden administration’s goal is to ‘politically hurt and intimidate’ Trump with FBI investigation
@Marco Rubio / Twitter
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