The FBI issued a rare statement Tuesday evening after court documents showed the Bureau had the authority to use deadly force when it raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022.
Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday made public numerous motions related to Jack Smith's classified documents case against Trump.
One filing revealed that Biden's FBI authorized the use of deadly force during their raid on Mar-a-Lago, approved by US Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2022.
Armed FBI agents were prepared to confront Trump!!
“Must FPOTUS [Trump] arrive at MAL [Mar-a-Lago], FBI MM EM and OSCs will be prepared to work with the FPOTUS and the USSS Security Team,” the document said. “Should USSS resist or interfere with FBI timeline or access, FBI MM EM will engage [redacted] And [redacted] will work with USSS POCs under existing liaison relationships.
“Department of Justice law enforcement officers may use deadly force only when necessary, i.e., when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or another person brings. ” the document read.
Trump responded to the Biden administration's authorization of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago.
“WOW! I just came out of the Biden Witch Hunt Trial in Manhattan, the 'Icebox', and was shown reports that Crooked Joe Biden's DOJ, during their illegal and unconstitutional raid on Mar-a-Lago, PERMITTED the FBI DEADLY (LETHAL) TO USE FORCE. NOW WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD ANY OFFICE – 25TH AMENDMENT!” Trump said this on Tuesday evening on Truth Social.
“BIDEN'S DOJ WAS AUTHORIZED TO SHOOT ME!” Trump said this in a follow-up statement in a campaign email.
In a terrible one rack Released Tuesday evening, the FBI claimed that the authorization of deadly force against former President Trump is merely “standard protocol.”
The FBI also claimed that Joe Biden had nothing to do with the use of deadly force against Trump, his family or Secret Service agents assigned to him.
“The FBI, like other law enforcement agencies, requires the team leader of any search warrant or arrest warrant to complete a standardized form known as a 'Plan of Operations.' This form, which must also be read by the team leader to all assisting agents, is a reminder of the FBI's deadly force policy. This is a legal requirement that must be included in all operational plans and read to officers immediately prior to the enforcement action. The President (Biden) has nothing to do with, and no input into, an Ops Plan. This is an internal law enforcement document and standardized form that FBI attorneys require before conducting any enforcement action,” the FBI said.
Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino called the authorization of lethal force against Trump a major problem.
“This is definitely a big problem. Otherwise, don't buy that crap,” Bongino said.
“It was not a standard operation. The MAL raid was an unprecedented action with significant potential for confusion and blue-on-blue issues and conflict. “It also involved competitive equity between federal agencies (FBI and USSS) with equal legal claims to disrupt the other's activities,” he said.
'Anyone who tells you otherwise is either stupid or pretending. “I have resolved more conflicts with the Russians in a foreign operation I conducted for the USSS than the FBI did in their search warrant at MAL,” Bongino added.
'Only an idiot would say 'it's the standard paperwork'. Go serve a search warrant on the White House in the cocaine case while you fill out your “standard paperwork” and see how that works out for you. Wake up,” Bongino said.
This is definitely a big problem. Otherwise don't buy that crap.
It was not a standard operation. The MAL raid was an unprecedented action with significant potential for confusion and blue-on-blue issues and conflict. It also involved competitive equity between federal agencies (FBI and…
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) May 22, 2024
