Conservative Groups Accuse DOJ of ‘Blatant Politicization’ Over FBI Raid of Mar-a-Lago

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland turns away and leaves the podium after speaking about the FBI's search warrant served at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida during a statement at the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, on Aug. 11, 2022. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Multiple conservative organizations accused the Department of Justice and FBI of having “breached the public trust” by engaging in partisan politics against former President Donald Trump and his allies, according to an open letter issued on Friday.

The Aug. 12 letter, obtained by The Daily Caller, asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide “an immediate and full explanation to the public” over the raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and the seizure of Rep. Scott Perry’s (R-Pa.) cellphone. The letter was signed by leaders representing organizations including the Conservative Partnership Institute, the Media Research Center, and the Leadership Institute.

“You must immediately share all documents related to these seizures, including the bases for each warrant, and communications related to the decision to proceed on each warrant,” wrote the 11 conservatives, including former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli.

The group asserted that Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray “have grossly failed” in their mission to deal out justice by rolling out unprecedented moves against Trump.

“The DOJ and FBI have breached the public trust. This blatant politicization of the federal justice system is a dangerous escalation without precedent, and incompatible with the United States Constitution,” the letter reads.

It said both agencies “ignored historical norms in failing to work first with counsel, and instead progressing directly to raids and seizures.”

In an apparent effort to retrieve official documents taken from the White House after Trump left office, the FBI raided the former president’s home on Aug. 8 and obtained 11 sets of allegedly classified documents, according to documents obtained by The Epoch Times.

Garland said on Aug. 11 that he had “personally approved the decision to seek a search warrant” and the DOJ “does not take such a decision lightly.” The attorney general claimed that FBI agents are “patriotic” and “dedicated” public servants who protect Americans against violent crime and terrorism. “I am honored to work alongside them,” he said.

The FBI seized Perry’s cellphone a day after the Mar-a-Lago raid. “DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys,” Perry said in a statement.

Motivation

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R–Okla.) who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, told The Epoch Times that Garland’s authorization of the FBI’s raid on Trump’s Palm Beach was “clearly about politics.”

“[Garland] is a guy who President Trump prevented from becoming a Supreme Court justice. He’s also a guy that is appointed by President Biden, who more than likely will be running against President Trump in two years,” he said.

“I think it’s difficult for anyone to believe that this isn’t politically motivated, considering the FBI’s past actions and their attitude towards President Trump and anyone associated with him. There are real questions that need to be answered.”

The Friday letter also specified an array of previous examples of what the conservatives called “politicized law enforcement” by the DOJ and the FBI, including labeling parents at school board meetings as potential terrorists, promulgating the Russia collusion narrative against Trump, and turning a blind eye to the alleged crimes of Hunter Biden.

The letter came as Republican lawmakers are calling for the release of potential causes that lay out the legal justification for the search. The affidavit of the Mar-a-Lago raid has yet to be made public.

The search of Trump’s home “was an unprecedented action that needs to be supported by unprecedented justification,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a former FBI agent.

House GOP leaders have pledged to take action on the “weaponized politicization” of the DOJ “when Republicans take back the House” in the midterm elections.

The DOJ did not immediately return a request for comment.

Jeff Louderback contributed to this report.