Following former President Donald Trump’s complaints that President Joe Biden authorized deadly force during the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022, former GOP Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming urged Republicans in Congress to overcome “cowardice” for “what you know is right.”
A court filling was unsealed on Tuesday showing briefing notes for the August 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid, which said: “Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice [DOJ] may use deadly force when necessary.” Trump faces 40 felony charges stemming from the search of his Florida residence in which he’s accused of keeping classified documents after leaving the White House in January 2021, and of obstructing efforts to get them returned to the proper authorities. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and denies any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, Trump took to his Truth Social account, saying that the DOJ “AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE” during the operation.
In a fundraising email, Trump said that the president was “locked & loaded ready to take me out,” reported ABC News.
The FBI in response released a statement, insisting the bureau followed “standard protocol” during the operation, which “includes a standard policy statement” on the use of force.
Former GOP Representative Liz Cheney speaks on December 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Following former President Donald Trump’s complaints that President Joe Biden authorized deadly force during the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022,… Former GOP Representative Liz Cheney speaks on December 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Following former President Donald Trump’s complaints that President Joe Biden authorized deadly force during the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022, Cheney urged Republicans in Congress to stand up for “what you know is right.”
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Cheney, among the most prominent GOP critics of Trump, took to X, formerly Twitter, to condemn Trump’s complaints and call out Congress Republicans.
“Donald Trump is unstable and dangerous. He knows this is a lie that could again provoke violence from those who blindly follow him. Rs in Congress: You know Trump is unfit. When will you put aside your cowardice and stand up for what you know is right?” Cheney wrote on X.
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s spokesperson via email for comment on Wednesday.
Cheney’s comments arrived after Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene alleged the DOJ and FBI “were planning to assassinate [President] Trump,” as she shared a screenshot of Trump’s post on X and encouraged Republicans to take action.
“Does everyone get it yet???!!!! What are Republicans going to do about it? I tried to oust our Speaker who funded Biden’s DOJ AND FBI, but Democrats stopped it,” Greene added on X.
The FBI maintains the Mar-a-Lago raid briefing “followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force. No one ordered additional steps to be taken and there was no departure from the norm in this matter.”
The bureau’s statement was supported by Frank Figliuzzi, former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, in an X post: “Yep, every FBI operations order contains a reminder of FBI deadly force policy. Even for a search warrant. Deadly force is always authorized if the required threat presents itself.”
In Tuesday’s post, Trump also called for Biden’s removal by invoking the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which sets up procedures for replacing the president in the case of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation.
“NOW WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY,” Trump added. “HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD OFFICE—25TH AMENDMENT!”
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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