FBI agents who raided former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 were authorized to use deadly force, if necessary, according to a new report Tuesday.
Conservative journalist Julie Kelly revealed the orders from the raid, authorized by Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a series of posts on X.
Her information was derived from recently unsealed court filings in the case. The federal government, led by Garland-appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith, alleges that Trump mishandled classified information and obstructed justice by refusing to turn over the records as requested by the National Archives.
Read: Judge In Trump’s New York Case Blocked Key Defense Witness
“Oh my God. Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service [agents] if necessary,” Kelly posted. “They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks. Gestapo.”
In another post, she added that the FBI had a medic stationed at the scene and had identified a local trauma center for anyone who may be “injured” during the raid.
“The FBI risked the lives of Donald Trump, his family, his staff, and MAL guests for a publicity stunt to make it look like Trump stole national security files. People need to be arrested for this,” Kelly noted.
Trump, who was in New York City at his trial for the alleged hush-money payoff to porn actress Stormy Daniels, reacted on Truth Social, his social media platform, by slamming President Joe Biden.
Read: Alan Dershowitz: What I Saw Shocked Me In Trump Court Room
“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, in their Illegal and UnConstitutional Raid of Mar-a-Lago, AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE,” Trump posted.
“NOW WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT JOE BIDEN IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.”
“HE IS MENTALLY UNFIT TO HOLD OFFICE — 25TH AMENDMENT!” Trump added.
The FBI defended the deadly-force order against a former president and his family.
In a statement to Fox News, the agency said, “The FBI 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.”
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.