(Omaha) The FBI director had harsh words on Wednesday for supporters of former United States President Donald Trump who gave violent speech following his agency’s search of Ms. Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Posted at 11:12 p.m.
Christopher Wray, who was named the agency’s director in 2017 by Donald Trump, called threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice Department “deplorable and dangerous.”
“I’m always concerned about threats against law enforcement,” Wray said. “Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you are mad at. »
Mr. Wray made the comments following a news conference during a long-planned visit to the agency’s field office in Omaha, Nebraska, where he discussed the focus of the FBI on cybersecurity. He declined to answer questions about Monday’s hours-long search by FBI agents of Mr. Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
It has been easy to find the threats and a call to arms in these parts of the internet favored by right-wing extremists since Donald Trump himself announced the raid of his Florida home. Among the reactions are the widespread “Lock and load”, a phrase meaning to get to safety and load your weapon, as well as calls for the assassination of federal agents and even US Attorney General Merrick. Garland.
On Gab — a social media site popular with white supremacists and anti-Semites — a user by the name of Stephen said he was waiting for “the call” to stage an armed revolution.
“All it takes is one call. And millions of people will arm themselves and take over this country. It will be over in less than two weeks,” the post read.
Another post on Gab implored fellow supporters, “Let’s get started! This unelected and illegitimate regime has gone overboard with (its Gestapo search)! It is high time that the liberal socialist garbage was cleaned out of American society! The term Gestapo refers to the official secret police of Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe.
The search of Donald Trump’s residence on Monday is part of an investigation into whether the former president took classified White House files from his residence in Florida, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Justice Department has been investigating potential mishandling of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said earlier this year it had received 15 boxes of White House documents from Mar-a-Lago, including documents containing classified information.