Amid a political firestorm between Democrats and Republicans in the United States, Justice Secretary Merrick Garland said Thursday that he “personally approved” Monday’s stunning search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home by the FBI.
• Also Read: Trump has invoked his right not to respond 440 times
• Also Read: Trump suggests the FBI may have ‘planted’ evidence during the Mar-a-Lago search
• Also Read: The FBI raided Trump’s residence
During an extraordinary press conference, Mr. Garland did not disclose the reasons and results of the search, but he noted that it was approved by a federal judge.
Confronted by the outrage raised by the attack among republicans, the minister condemned the “baseless attacks” on his ministry and the federal police.
“I personally approve of the decision to seek a search warrant for this case,” Mr. Garland said in a short and very rare television appearance.
He said the ministry does not take such decisions lightly.
The FBI’s unprecedented search for a former US president took place on Monday at Donald Trump’s luxury residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Outraged, the 45th American president took to his social network Truth Social on Wednesday to suggest that the FBI had “planted” evidence against him during the operation.
A former tenant of the White House has never been so concerned about justice.
Is the federal police search connected to several boxes Donald Trump took with him when he left the White House in January 2021? Is it related to the investigation into his responsibility in the attack on the capitol? Is it related to suspicions of financial fraud involving the Trump Organization in New York?
Mr. Garland did not disclose the reasons for the FBI search. He merely indicated “probable cause” justifying the authorities’ decision but did not elaborate.
The Justice Department has been under political and media pressure this week to comment on the search.
Republican tenors are united with their former president, who is not counting on defeat in 2020 and plans to run again in 2024.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s rival in two years, expressed his “deep concern” after the FBI raid.
The billionaire Republican was also sworn in to the New York attorney general’s office on Wednesday.
But he asked for four hours, 440 times more than his right not to answer questions under the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution, according to American media.
New York State Supreme Magistrate Letitia James has been investigating the Trump Organization family group since 2019 on suspicion of financial and tax fraud.
Mr. Ron Fischetti, one of Trump’s lawyers, was quoted by NBC television as saying his client’s only response was to give his name.
When contacted by AFP, Ms. James Services or Mr. Trump’s attorneys have not yet responded.
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