Context
Former US President Donald Trump's Florida Home Raided By The FBI
Former US President Donald Trump
Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida was raided over a probe into the handling of presidential documents.
What's up: It triggered an angry outburst from the former president, who termed it 'prosecutorial misconduct' and 'the weaponisation of the justice system'.
Trump's statement: "These are dark times for our nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before."
Trump alleged that such an assault could only take place in broken, third-world countries. "Sadly, America has now become one of those countries, corrupt at a level not seen before," he said.
He demanded that the lawlessness, political persecution, and witch-hunt must be exposed and stopped.
“They even broke into my safe! What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States,” the statement said.
“It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the justice system, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections,” Trump said.
“It is political targeting at the highest level!” he said, adding: “I will continue to fight for the great American People!”
Why the raid: It was reportedly conducted as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified documents, which may have been brought to his Florida residence.
Under the Presidential Records Act, documents received and sent by the President are required to be preserved by the office.
The National Archives, charged with collecting and sorting presidential material, has previously said at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, including some that were classified.
In early June, a handful of investigators visited the property seeking more information on the matter.
Republicans are furious over this action by the FBI.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel claimed that Democrats continually weaponise the bureaucracy against Republicans.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, wrote that he had "seen enough." "Attorney General (Merrick) Garland: preserve your documents and clear your calendar. I've seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicisation," McCarthy wrote.
"When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned," he added.
Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida said "we need answers now" and that the "FBI must explain what they were doing today & why."
Not over yet: Trump is facing another investigation for allegedly helping incite a mob on 6 January 2021 with a “web of lies” about the 2020 US presidential election being marred by widespread voter fraud.
