Since the search at Trump’s property, Republicans have directed their vitriol at the FBI and Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Republicans also were highly critical of the FBI, Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray over the execution of the search warrant and about what they characterized as a lack of transparency in sharing information with Congress about a criminal investigation.
“Violence and threats against law enforcement, including the FBI, are dangerous and should be deeply concerning to all Americans,” he said. Taylor Foy, a spokesman for Sen. Charles E. Grassley , said that “at this point we are just waiting to get a copy of the actual search warrant,” while criticizing the FBI over the actions of a former agency lawyer in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The Republican suspicions of the federal law enforcement agencies reflect years of efforts by Trump to cast them as “deep state” enemies that he said falsely linked him to Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election.At a news conference Friday, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee urged patience before jumping to conclusions about the former president.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick , a former FBI agent, later explained it’s possible the affidavit remains under seal for two reasons: to keep covert cases and methods under wraps or ensure national security threats are not publicly unveiled.