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FBI's Wray Denounces Threats 08/11 06:09
The director of the FBI had strong words Wednesday for supporters of former
President Donald Trump who have been using violent rhetoric in the wake of his
agency's search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The director of the FBI had strong words Wednesday for
supporters of former President Donald Trump who have been using violent
rhetoric in the wake of his agency's search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.
Christopher Wray, who was appointed as the agency's director in 2017 by
Trump, called threats circulating online against federal agents and the Justice
Department "deplorable and dangerous."
"I'm always concerned about threats to law enforcement," Wray said.
"Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter who you're upset
with."
Wray made the remarks following a news conference during a long-planned
visit to the agency's field office in Omaha, Nebraska, where he discussed the
FBI's focus on cybersecurity. He declined to answer questions about the
hours-long search Monday by FBI agents of Trump's Palm Beach, Florida resort.
It has been easy to find the threats and a call to arms in those corners of
the internet favored by right-wing extremists since Trump himself announced the
search of his Florida home. Reactions included the ubiquitous "Lock and load"
and calls for federal agents and even U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to
be assassinated.
On Gab -- a social media site popular with white supremacists and
antisemites -- one poster going by the name of Stephen said he was awaiting
"the call" to mount an armed revolution.
"All it takes is one call. And millions will arm up and take back this
country. It will be over in less than 2 weeks," the post said.
Another Gab poster implored others: "Lets get this started! This unelected,
illegitimate regime crossed the line with their GESTAPO raid! It is long past
time the lib socialist filth were cleansed from American society!"
The search of Trump's residence Monday is part of an investigation into
whether Trump took classified records from the White House to his Florida
residence, according to people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department
has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information
since the National Archives and Records Administration said it had received
from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing
classified information, earlier this year.
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