OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The director of the FBI had strong words Wednesday for supporters of former President Donald Trump who are using violent rhetoric after his agency raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
Christopher Wray, who was appointed director of the agency in 2017 by Trump, called the threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice Department “deplorable and dangerous.”
“I’m always concerned about threats to law enforcement,” Ray said. “Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you’re upset with.”
Wray made the remarks after a news conference during a long-planned visit to the agency’s office in Omaha, Nebraska, where he discussed the FBI’s focus on cybersecurity. He declined to answer questions about Monday’s hours-long search by FBI agents of Trump’s Palm Beach, Fla., resort.
It’s been easy to find the threats and calls to arms in these corners of the internet favored by right-wing extremists since Trump himself announced the search of his Florida home. Reactions included the ubiquitous “Lock and Load” and calls for the assassination of federal agents and even US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
On Gab – a social media site popular with white racists and anti-Semites – a poster going by the name Stephen said he was expecting a “call” to organize an armed revolution.
“It only takes one call. And millions will arm themselves and take back this country. It will end in less than 2 weeks,” the post said.
Another Gab poster implored others: “Let’s get started! This unelected, illegitimate regime crossed the line with their GESTAPO attack! It is long past time that the libertarian filth was purged from American society!”
Monday’s search of Trump’s residence was part of an investigation into whether Trump took classified White House tapes to his Florida residence, according to people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has been investigating the potential misuse of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said it received 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing classified information, from Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.
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