8/10- Updated With Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s comment.
Following the FBI raid on Monday night of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, Republican lawmakers and officials in Texas are speaking out.
“WAKE UP! Joe Biden is using the FBI to go after President Trump!” exclaimed U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13).
WAKE UP! Joe Biden is using the FBI to go after President Trump!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! Democrats are voting to double the size of the IRS so they can come after you for MORE of your hard-earned paycheck. Is this the Soviet Union or Communist China? They MUST be stopped!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) August 9, 2022
In a later tweet, Jackson called out the FBI, saying, “Tonight the FBI officially became the enemy of the people!!!”
He added, “Biden is turning the FBI into his secret police. His own personal weapon to SILENCE regime enemies. They hate your freedom. This administration is truly the ENEMY of the American people!!”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the raid “corrupt & an abuse of power.”
1/x The FBI raiding Donald Trump is unprecedented.
It is corrupt & an abuse of power.
What Nixon tried to do, Biden has now implemented: The Biden Admin has fully weaponized DOJ & FBI to target their political enemies.
And with 87K new IRS agents, they’re coming for YOU too.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 9, 2022
In a thread by Cruz, he demanded answers as to why Trump was raided while multiple other pressing issues—such as investigating Epstein clients and combatting Antifa terrorism—have been ignored.
3/x This same DOJ:
– ignored Hunter Biden (who filmed himself committing multiple felonies);
– ignored Hillary Clinton;
– largely ignored BLM/ANTIFA rioters;
– ignored dangerous protestors outside Justices homes; &
– ignored Jeffrey Epstein’s clients.
WHY??
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 9, 2022
Gov. Greg Abbott criticized the FBI raid on Trump’s home, saying, “Such abuses must have limits.”
This is next-level Nixonian.
Never before has the country seen an Administration go to such extent to use the levers of government to target a former President and political rival.
This weaponizes power to squelch dissent.
Such abuses must have limits https://t.co/Z7L9rW8hHO
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 9, 2022
State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royse City) expressed frustration with the politicization of the FBI on Twitter, stating, “We are at war with the Left.”
We are at war with the Left.
Watergate pales in comparison and it’s time to stop acting like Democrats are a party we can work with.
Texas should immediately expel all FBI employees from our state until this madness ends.
— Bryan Slaton (@BryanforHD2) August 9, 2022
Meanwhile, State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) called the raid a “grotesque display of third world, banana republic, tin-pot dictator-style despotism.”
My statement on the grotesque display of third world, banana republic, tin-pot dictator style despotism that was the FBI raid of President Trump's home.#txlege pic.twitter.com/qOqWpEoPft
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) August 9, 2022
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote, “Biden’s decision to wield the FBI against Trump is a brazen & ill-fated attempt to distract from his own failures.”
Biden’s decision to wield the FBI against Trump is a brazen & ill-fated attempt to distract from his own failures.
With his hiring of tens of thousands of IRS agents instead of border patrol, Americans can expect more investigations based on political views & affiliations.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 9, 2022
In a later tweet, Paxton stated, “Biden & AG Garland have co-opted the #FBI into a political outfit to benefit Dems & target anyone who speaks out against their radical agenda.”
Biden & AG Garland have co-opted the #FBI into a political outfit to benefit Dems & target anyone who speaks out against their radical agenda.
They’re fully committed to weaponizing the DOJ to try anything to stop Donald Trump because they know he will hold them accountable.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 9, 2022
Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi succinctly expressed his opinion in three-word tweet: “Abolish the FBI.”
Abolish the FBI.
— Matt Rinaldi (@MattRinaldiTX) August 9, 2022
On Wednsday morning Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has historically been an ally of Trump, said, ““If Democrats will weaponize DOJ, FBI, IRS against a former President, they will think nothing of weaponizing them against the American people. That means you!”
If Democrats will weaponize DOJ, FBI, IRS against a former President, they will think nothing of weaponizing them against the American people. That means you! Biden’s wrecking of the economy is nothing compared to the pain of 87,000 new IRS auditors in their new spending bill.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) August 10, 2022
