Newly unsealed court documents reveal the Department of Justice authorized the use of deadly force for the FBI’s raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Aug. 2022.
“According to ‘Operations Order’ produced in discovery, the FBI believed its objective for the Mar-a-Lago raid was to seize ‘classified information, NDI [national defense information], and US government records described in [the] search warrant,” the document released by Judge Aileen Cannon states.
“The order contained a ‘Policy Statement’ regarding ‘Use of Deadly Force,’ which stated, for example, ‘Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary…’”
Tons of new unsealed filings on classified docs case–I will try to post as much as I can (there goes the workout) but this is mind-blowing.
FBI authorized the use of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/f0lR6UifAH
— Julie Kelly
(@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
The contingencies provision of the order reveals armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage his Secret Service detail if necessary.
Should FPOTUS [Trump] arrive at MAL [Mar-a-Lago], FBI MM EM and OSCs will be prepared to engage with FPOTUS and USSS Security Team.
Should USSS provide resistance or interfere with FBI timeline or accesses, FBI MM EM will engage with [redacted] and [redacted] will engage with USSS POC’s per existing liaison relationships.
“They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL [Mar-a-Lago] guests and even pick the locks. Gestapo,” reporter Julie Kelly posted on X Tuesday.
Oh my God
Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary.
They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks.
Gestapo pic.twitter.com/ViWahRIpTL
— Julie Kelly
The order also authorized on-site FBI medical support on the scene and identified a local trauma center for anyone “injured” during the raid.
FBI had a medic on the scene and identified a local trauma center for anyone “injured” during the raid.@JudiciaryGOP pic.twitter.com/vOwlZPUsfb
— Julie Kelly
Kelly also noted the anti-Trump political players behind the order, including former FBI Washington Field Office head Steven D’Antuono, who ran the Detroit field office when it facilitated the entrapment operation to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and quarterbacked the mass arrests and prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters following the January 6 protests.
“Head of Washington FBI field office when this was executed: Steven D’Antuono. Recall who authorized the raid: Merrick Garland,” Kelly wrote.
“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.”
Here is the use of deadly force instructions attached to the FBI’s operational instructions.
Head of Washington FBI field office when this was executed: Steven D’Antuono.
Recall who authorized the raid: Merrick Garland
The FBI risked the lives of Donald Trump, his family, his… pic.twitter.com/XHHLDYqWgV
— Julie Kelly
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) called the impeachments of FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland for authorizing the “deadly force” order.
“This is grounds for impeachment of Wray and Garland. Trump and team was cooperating the entire time with the FBI. Was deadly force authorized against Biden for his docs? Were they going to shoot SS then Pres Trump, Melania, and Barron too???” Greene posted on X.
This is grounds for impeachment of Wray and Garland.
Trump and team was cooperating the entire time with the FBI.
Was deadly force authorized against Biden for his docs?
Were they going to shoot SS then Pres Trump, Melania, and Barron too???
Speaker Mike Johnson fully funded… https://t.co/7UQNwd0LD6
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
“Speaker Mike Johnson fully funded the DOJ and FBI plus new building and tied our hands behind our backs to hold them accountable,” she continued. “We have the power of the purse and Johnson has handed the purse to Chuck Schumer. All of this is unforgivable.”
Other GOP lawmakers like Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) likewise blasted the the Biden admin for “turning America into a banana republic.”
Biden’s FBI authorized the use of deadly force during the raid of Mar-a-Lago.
Biden is a threat to democracy. https://t.co/bgKKAf4G9Z
— Jim Banks (@Jim_Banks) May 21, 2024
President Biden’s FBI authorized the use of deadly force during the raid of his political opponent’s private residence.
The Left has turned America into a banana republic. https://t.co/TSYf2d9gka
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) May 21, 2024
Biden’s DOJ authorized the USE OF DEADLY FORCE…
In a raid on the home of a former President of the United States…
Who is the chief political rival of the current President…
And who (was and) is a protectee of the United States Secret Service. https://t.co/sFqiwdEiem
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 21, 2024
Notably, D’Antuono admitted to Congress last year that the FBI violated protocols in multiple ways to search Trump’s Palm Beach resort last August.
Judge Cannon two weeks ago ordered an indefinite hold on her scheduling a date for the classified documents trial citing significant issues around Special Counsel Jack Smith’s tampering of the classified evidence that need to be addressed before it goes to a jury.