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Fox News Host’s Incendiary Fauci Comments Follow a Network Pattern: Comments by Jesse Watters, a host of “The Five,” were in keeping with previous derogatory remarks about Dr. Anthony Fauci by hosts and conservatives.
by Michael M. Grynbaum
New York Times
Dec. 23, 2021, 3:50 p.m. ET

The Fox News host Jesse Watters used notably violent language this week in urging a gathering of conservatives to publicly confront Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s foremost infectious-disease specialist, who has become a frequent source of criticism on the political right.

Referring to tabloid-style surprise interviews, Mr. Watters said in a speech that activists should “ambush” Dr. Fauci with adversarial questions that he deemed “the kill shot.” Describing the imagined effect of such a filmed confrontation, Mr. Watters added: “Boom! He is dead! He is dead! He’s done!”

Dr. Fauci called the comments “horrible” in an interview with CNN and said Mr. Watters “should be fired on the spot.”

Fox News has not disciplined Mr. Watters for the remarks. The network said in a statement that the comments were “twisted completely out of context” and that “it’s more than clear that Jesse Watters was using a metaphor for asking hard-hitting questions to Dr. Fauci.”

The host’s amped-up language was in keeping with the tone of prominent conservative figures, who for months have routinely and casually referred to Dr. Fauci in bracingly derogatory terms.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is widely viewed as a leader of the Republican Party, referred to Dr. Fauci as a “Covid authoritarian” in a fund-raising email this week. “We cannot allow our communities to become Faucian dystopias in which people’s freedoms are curtailed and their livelihoods destroyed,” the DeSantis campaign wrote.

Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, described Dr. Fauci as “the most dangerous bureaucrat in the history of the country” during a Fox News interview last month. On Wednesday, Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said on Fox News: “The American people want safe streets, affordable gas and freedom, and the Biden administration has given us record crime, record inflation and Dr. Fauci.”

In April, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, introduced the Fire Fauci Act, a bill that, among other measures, would strip Dr. Fauci of his salary. (It has not progressed in Congress.) Former President Donald J. Trump has called Dr. Fauci “a radical masker” and questioned the doctor’s efforts to combat the pandemic.

Dr. Fauci, who turns 81 on Friday, has directed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. He is highly respected for his decades of work on pandemics, including the spread of AIDS in the 1980s. He became a household name in 2020 as a leading spokesman for the government’s coronavirus response. But Mr. Trump grew to distrust him while in office, and conservatives now often blame him for their concerns about the handling of the pandemic.

In an interview with The New York Times in September, Dr. Fauci spoke about the harassment and threats that he and his family, including his children, had received from “radical extreme right individuals,” including hundreds of emails and text messages with violent language accusing the doctor of being “a killer.”

“It’s all part of what you’re seeing in the intense, fiercely intense polarization that we’re seeing in the country,” Dr. Fauci said in September.

Fox News is a frequent venue for the criticism, and where the doctor is occasionally referred to as “Lord Fauci.” The network’s highest-rated hosts often depict him as an authoritarian determined to strip Americans of basic freedoms. Tucker Carlson has claimed that Dr. Fauci “created Covid,” and accused him of spreading “authoritarian germ hysteria.”

On Oct. 4, Mr. Carlson accused Mr. Fauci of deciding “to unilaterally end Christmas,” in remarks that also included a reference to “sneezing, unvaccinated illegal immigrants coming into this country,” which Mr. Carlson said had contributed to more Covid-19 cases.

Lara Logan, a former CBS News correspondent, used an appearance on Fox News in November to compare Dr. Fauci to Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor and murderer, prompting a rebuke from the Anti-Defamation League. Since then, Ms. Logan has not appeared on Fox News or the streaming platform Fox Nation.

Dr. Fauci, who once appeared fairly regularly on Fox News to discuss the government response to the pandemic, called Ms. Logan’s comments “unconscionable.” He has been mostly absent from the network of late, though he appeared with the anchor Neil Cavuto on Dec. 3; Mr. Cavuto contracted Covid in October and has urged his viewers to be vaccinated.

Mr. Watters has gone about his job as usual since the uproar over his remarks, which he made on Monday. On Wednesday, he guest-hosted Mr. Carlson’s program, the highest-rated show on cable news; during the appearance, Mr. Watters referred to Dr. Fauci as “his holiness.”

Still, the pandemic has had some impact on Mr. Watters and his fellow stars of the Fox News afternoon talk show “The Five.” The hosts taped the show on Wednesday from separate locations, rather than in the same New York studio, because of increasing fears over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which prompted Fox News to declare its Manhattan office off limits to unvaccinated employees.

The network had previously allowed those employees to work in its office as long as they tested negative. Fox News attributed the change to new city requirements recently issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg contributed reporting.

Michael M. Grynbaum is a media correspondent covering the intersection of business, culture and politics. @grynbaum

Texas Man Arrested for Making Election-Related Threats to Government Officials: First Case Charged by Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force
by The United States Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
January 21, 2022

A Texas man was arrested today in Travis County, Texas, for allegedly sending threatening election-related communications to government officials on Jan. 5, 2021.

Chad Stark, 54, of Leander, was arrested this morning in a law enforcement operation carried out by the FBI. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas.

This is the first criminal case brought by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in late June 2021, the task force is leading the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and investigates and prosecutes these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country as warranted.

“The Justice Department has a responsibility not only to protect the right to vote, but also to protect those who administer our voting systems from violence and illegal threats of violence,” said Attorney General Garland. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the country, will hold accountable those who violate federal law by using violence or threatening violence to target election workers fulfilling their public duties.”

“Today’s arrest confirms the FBI’s commitment in our pursuit of justice against those who choose to threaten violence against anyone participating in our elections,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Election workers striving to protect our right to a fair and democratic process deserve nothing less than the utmost safety and assurance they can accomplish their roles without interference. The FBI will continue to focus on our mission of protecting these individuals and the important work they do, as well as every American’s right to vote.”

“The intimidation of those in charge of carrying out free and fair elections in this country is against the law and cannot go unchecked,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia. “When someone threatens an election official working at any level of the voting process – whether that be an elected office holder or a volunteer poll worker – our democracy is put in jeopardy. We are grateful to all of those who endeavor to secure our elections and our democracy. We must protect them all.” According to the indictment, on Jan. 5, 2021, Stark allegedly posted a message to Craigslist entitled, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.” The message stated:

Georgia Patriots it’s time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. It’s time to invoke our Second Amendment right it’s time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. It’s our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia it’s time to spill blood…. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Let’s be very clear to our local law enforcement who have stood down and watch BLM antifa destroy our country and kill our citizens yet you’ll step up to stop Patriot supporters you’ll enforce face mask and you’ll close American businesses??? Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local….. we will find you oathbreakers and we’re going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife… we’re going to make examples of traitors to our country… death to you and all you communist friends.

Organized by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the Election Threats Task Force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

Stark is charged with one count of communicating interstate threats. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

Deputy Director Sean F. Mulryne of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Raskin: Tapes Show McCarthy 'Radically Changed' Tune On Jan. 6
MSNBC
Apr 27, 2022

January 6th Select Cmte. member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) joins MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss the recently released tapes of Rep. Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders expressing concern about the far-right members of their caucus after the Capitol insurrection.



1:10
LAWRENCE O'DONNELL: IN THOSE TAPES, WHICH WERE
OBTAINED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES,
MCCARTHY AND TOP HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE HEARD
EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT FLORIDA
CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ AND
OTHER EXTREME MEMBERS OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY COULD INCITE
VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS IN BOTH PARTIES.

MCCARTHY: OKAY, THE OTHER THING
I WANT TO BRING UP AND I'M MAKING SOME
PHONE CALLS TO SOME MEMBERS.
I JUST, I JUST GOT SOMETHING
SENT NOW ABOUT NEWSMAX
SOMETHING MATT GAETZ SAID WHERE
HE'S CALLING PEOPLE'S NAMES OUT,
SAYING AN ANTI TRUMP IN THIS
TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE, SO MANY
OTHER PLACES.
THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF PEOPLE
ARE DOING THAT HAS TO
STOP.

SCALISE: I THINK MO, ALSO.... MO AND LOUIE'S
COMMENTS TOO.
A LOT OF MEMBERS HAVE SAID SOME
REAL CONCERNING THINGS ABOUT....

MCCARTHY: DID THEY SAY SOMETHING TOO?

SCALISE: NOT TO, I MEAN MO WAS AT
THE RALLY, "WERE KICKING ASS
AND TAKING NAMES THING"
AT THE TRUMP RALLY.

MCCARTHY: GONZALEZ JUST SENT IT TO ME,
SO I'M CALLING GAETZ, I'M EXPLAINING
TO HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO
SAY, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE SOME
OTHER PEOPLE CALL HIM TOO.
BUT THE NATURE OF WHAT, IF I'M
GETTING BRIEFINGS, AND I'M GOING TO GET
ANOTHER ONE FROM THE FBI
TOMORROW,
THIS IS SERIOUS SHIT,
TO CUT THIS OUT.

SCALISE: YEAH THAT'S, THAT'S, IT'S
POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL WHAT HE'S
DOING.

MCCARTHY: WELL, HE'S PUTTING PEOPLE IN
JEOPARDY, AND HE DOESN'T NEED
TO BE DOING THIS.
WE SAW WHAT PEOPLE WOULD DO IN THE
CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE
CAME PREPARED WITH ROPE, WITH
EVERYTHING ELSE.

Breitbart Slammed for Doxxing FBI Agents Involved in Mar-a-Lago Raid
by Aila Slisco
Newsweek
8/12/22 AT 11:46 PM EDT

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Conservative media outlet Breitbart is facing criticism for publishing the names of FBI agents involved in the raid of former President Donald Trump's home.

Breitbart published a leaked version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant, including the names of an FBI special agent and supervisor agent, on Friday. The agents both signed their names on receipts for property seized from Trump's home, including boxes of classified documents that reportedly may have included nuclear secrets. A redacted version of the warrant, which omitted the names of the agents, was officially released hours later.

Commentators soon took to Twitter to accuse Breitbart, an outlet previously managed by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, of doxxing—the practice of identifying a person or releasing personal information about them, often with the aim of enabling targeted harassment. Some also accused Trump of leaking the warrant to Breitbart in hopes of targeting the agents.

"[U.S. Attorney General Merrick] Garland called Trump out to make warrant public," tweeted digital strategist Alan Rosenblatt. "Trump tried to get one over on Garland, releasing warrant to Breitbart, w/out redacting FBI agents names. That's right, Trump doxxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant. Once again, Trump is inciting violence."

((Alan Rosenblatt, PhD)))
@DrDigiPol·Follow
Garland called Trump out to make warrant public.

Trump tried to get one over on Garland, releasing warrant to Breitbart, w/out redacting FBI agents names.

That’s right, Trump doxxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant.

Once again, Trump is inciting violence.
1:32 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"It's also worth noting that they published the names of the FBI agents, which serves no purpose other than opening them up to threats and harassment," legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti tweeted. "Breitbart is also confused about what 'SSA' means. It refers to Supervisory Special Agent, a FBI supervisor."

Renato Mariotti
@renato_mariotti·Follow
It’s also worth noting that they published the names of the FBI agents, which serves no purpose other than opening them up to threats and harassment.

Breitbart is also confused about what “SSA” means. It refers to Supervisory Special Agent, a FBI supervisor.

Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney

Breitbart really does have the search warrant, but it's odd that they're leaning into something that was apparent just from the dates in the court docket. Search warrant was filed Friday and executed Monday.

https://breitbart.com/politics/2022/08/ ... lago-raid/
12:29 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"Trump, via Breitbart, released unredacted copy of property receipt containing names of FBI agents," tweeted attorney Mark S. Zaid. "Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentional to cause these Special Agents (one of whom I know) & their families grief & subject them to possible threats."

Mark S. Zaid
@MarkSZaidEsq·Follow
Trump, via Breitbart, released unredacted copy of property receipt containing names of FBI agents. Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentional to cause these Special Agents (one of whom I know) & their families grief & subject them to possible threats.
7:03 PM · Aug 12, 2022
Read the full conversation on Twitter

"From what I can tell, the court unsealed it - but before that could happen, Trump himself leaked it to Breitbart," author Tessa Dare tweeted. "But the version he leaked had the FBI AGENTS' NAMES in it, whereas the official unsealed one kept those redacted to protect them and their families. A**hole."

"[Breitbart] incl the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search," Elephant Journal tweeted. "The court issued release of the warrant redacts that sensitive information. Team Trump just put a target on the backs of the agents & their families. That is 100% the intent."

Elephant Journal (V) (@WaylonLewis & Friends)
@elephantjournal·Follow
Replying to @elephantjournal
"[Breitbart] incl the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search. The court issued release of the warrant redacts that sensitive information."

Team Trump just put a target on the backs of the agents & their families.

That is 100% the intent.
7:09 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"Trump's social media platform sent a push alert this afternoon to an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents," tweeted CNN correspondent Donie O'Sullivan. "Those agents' names are now circulating on pro-Trump social media and are being villainized."

Donie O'Sullivan
@donie·Follow
Trump's social media platform sent a push alert this afternoon to an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents.

Those agents' names are now circulating on pro-Trump social media and are being villainized.
4:55 PM · Aug 12, 2022

"So... when Trump leaked the warrant docs to WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the FBI agents in moved were not redacted," news anchor Ed Greenberger tweeted. "Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America, or Americans, is a damn fool."

Ed Greenberger
@EdGreenberger·Follow
So… when Trump leaked the warrant docs to WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the FBI agents in moved were not redacted.

Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America, or Americans, is a damn fool.
4:21 PM · Aug 12, 2022

The FBI has received an increase in violent threats in the wake of conservative rage over the raid on Trump's home. FBI Director Christopher Wray has denounced the threats, saying on Wednesday "violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter what anybody's upset about."

Less than 24 hours before the Trump search warrant was leaked to Breitbart, an armed Trump supporter who had recently advocated killing FBI agents online was shot dead by police after allegedly attempting to break into the FBI field office in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Newsweek has reached out to Breitbart for comment.

Trump & Company Lash Out As The Walls Close In On Them
by Adrienne Lawrence
Rebel HQ
Aug 12, 2022

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what.i.meme.to.say

It's not looking good for Donald Trump. He's choosing to lash out against judges, the DOJ, and anyone else in his way. He's trying to take as many people down with him as he can. Adrienne Lawrence breaks it down on Rebel HQ.



******************

Florida judge who approved FBI search of Mar-a-Lago faces barrage of antisemitic online attacks: The magistrate, who is Jewish, is facing attacks that are antisemitic in nature.
by Matt Dixon
Politico
08/12/2022 03:59 PM EDT

Updated: 08/12/2022 04:49 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida federal magistrate judge who approved the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach County residence has faced an onslaught of antisemitic attacks and threats online, some of which targeted the synagogue he belongs to.

Magistrate judge Bruce Reinhart, a board member at Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens, has seen sustained antisemitic attacks on right wing message boards and other social media platforms like 4Chan since his name surfaced as the judge who signed off on the FBI’s warrant to search Mar-a-Lago.

Republicans, too, have been heavily critical of the judge, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who questioned Reinhart’s impartiality during an appearance on Fox News earlier this week when he claimed: “They found some Obama donor judge, not even a judge, a magistrate, to give them the search warrant.”

No Republican elected official has called for violence against Reinhart, and on Friday afternoon Rubio posted on Twitter that anyone threatening violence over the search should be arrested.

Reinhart had previously donated to President Barack Obama’s campaign but also contributed to Republican Jeb Bush when the former Florida governor was running for president during the 2016 cycle.

Major Paul Rogers with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department told POLITICO that they are “aware of the threats” and are working with federal law enforcement. The U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for protecting federal judges, declined to comment in detail.

The threats against Reinhart highlight the contentious nature of the search of Trump’s residence. On Thursday, police shot and killed a man, identified as Ricky W. Shiffer, in Ohio after he tried to break into the FBI office in Cincinnati, authorities said. The New York Times reported that a person with an account bearing the same name posted on Trump’s “Truth Social” social media platform that people should kill federal agents in Florida.

Aryeh Tuchman, a senior associate director for the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Extremism, said his organization is “monitoring the increased level of threat language generally, and also towards the specific judge.”

“I think it’s fair to say certainly where the judge is concerned, reports of vitriol directed at him and the synagogue have increased,” he said.

Tuchman said that the synagogue Reinhart belongs to has additional security in place and Temple Beth David had to cancel an outdoor service due to concerns of violence. Officials with the synagogue did not return a request seeking comment.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday said he approved the search of Trump’s resort and moved to unseal the search warrant. He also defended federal agents and prosecutors who have been heavily criticized by Republicans and others, saying he will not “stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked. The men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department are dedicated, patriotic public servants.”

Leading Republicans initially defended Trump and claimed the FBI search was an example of the federal government overstepping its authority and the Biden administration targeting political opponents. But some have taken softer stances after it was reported some of the documents could relate to nuclear weapons.

A search warrant viewed by POLITICO indicates that federal authorities are investigating Trump for potential violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of an investigation and removal or destruction of records. Some of the documents recovered were marked “TS/SCI,” one of the highest levels of classification by the government.

Few, however, have made public statements about threats made toward Reinhardt, even as conservatives on various social media sites and message boards have directly attacked him over being Jewish and over the fact that in 2009 he served as a defense attorney representing employees of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.



Fox News in particular received a backlash after airing a doctored photo of Reinhart receiving a foot massage from Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker and a longtime companion of Epstein. On Friday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade posted a mea culpa of sorts, saying the depiction “never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest.”

“Right wingers are weaponizing the synagogue affiliation of a judge who was doing his job,” said Jeffrey Salkin, a rabbi and columnist for Religion News Service. “They are slurring the social justice commitments of contemporary Judaism. Their bigotry is appalling, and I would welcome the protests of the Republican Jewish Coalition.”

Fox News aired a bizarre fake photo replacing Jeffrey Epstein with the judge who signed off on Trump's search warrant
by Natalie Musumeci
Business Insider
8/13/22

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A digitally altered photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell that replaced Epstein's body with the judge who approved Trump's search warrant @what.i.meme.to.say / Twitter

* Fox News aired a digitally altered photo of the judge who green-lit the search warrant for Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
* An image of the judge was tacked onto an old photo of Jeffrey Epstein getting a foot rub by Ghislaine Maxwell.
* The photo aired during "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday while Brian Kilmeade was a guest host.

Fox News aired a digitally altered photo that replaced an old image of Jeffrey Epstein getting a foot rub from Ghislaine Maxwell with the body and face of the federal judge who signed off on the warrant allowing FBI agents to search former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

The altered photo — originally an image of the late convicted sex offender Epstein cozying up to convicted sex trafficker Maxwell on a private jet — was broadcast during "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Thursday while Fox News' Brian Kilmeade was serving as guest host.

"Also a picture of Bruce Reinhart," Kilmeade said during the segment as the fake image showing Reinhart — a magistrate judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida — was shown to viewers.

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar·Follow
Brian Kilmeade, filling in for Tucker Carlson tonight, shared a clearly fake, photoshopped image of the judge involved in approving the Mar-a-Lago warrant

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1557 ... fbi-2022-8

In the photo, Reinhart can be seen with a box of Golden Oreos and a bottle of Early Times whiskey in his right hand. Epstein's upper body in the image was replaced with Reinhart's.

"This is the judge in charge of the, of the, of the, um, as you know, of the warrant, and we'll see if he's going to release it next — he likes Oreos and whiskey," Kilmeade said during the broadcast.

During the broadcast, Kilmeade asked Fox News' Sean Hannity whether he can "relate to that," prompting Hannity himself to call out the photo for being altered.

"I think that's actually a picture of Jeffrey Epstein with somebody putting [Reinhart's] head on there," Hannity told Kilmeade, adding, "I'm guessing, I don't know."

Kilmeade responded, "It might be his plane. Who knows?"

"I'll let you determine that in the morning. We'll be watching," a chuckling Hannity said.

The image used for the broadcast was credited to the meme social media account @what.i.meme.to.say. The account didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment on Twitter or Instagram.

Reinhart approved the warrant that allowed the FBI to search Trump's Mar-a-Lago property on Monday.

The judge has reportedly received violent and antisemitic threats by far-right extremists since signing off on the warrant.

Brian Kilmeade
@kilmeade·Follow
Last night while subbing for Tucker Carlson, we showed you an image of Judge Bruce Reinhart w/ Ghislaine Maxwell that was sourced on screen to a meme pulled from Twitter & wasn’t real. This depiction never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest.
1:44 PM · Aug 12, 2022

In a tweet on Friday, Kilmeade addressed the use of the doctored photo in Thursday night's segment and said he was "showing a meme in jest."

"Last night while subbing for Tucker Carlson, we showed you an image of Judge Bruce Reinhart w/ Ghislaine Maxwell that was sourced on screen to a meme pulled from Twitter & wasn't real," Kilmeade wrote. "This depiction never took place & we wanted to make clear that we were showing a meme in jest."

When reached on Friday, a spokesperson for Fox News declined to comment further.

Armed Trump supporters gathered outside Phoenix FBI office: Peter Strzok: Author, Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump.
CNN
Aug 14, 2022

A group of approximately 25 people gathered outside of an FBI office in Phoenix. Some in the group were armed and wearing tactical gear. CNN has reached out to the FBI Phoenix field office for comment. Phoenix Police Department Sgt. Phil Krynsky told CNN “the group was peaceful and there are no incidents to report.”

Trump considering releasing Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage
Aug 17, 2022
CNN
14.1M subscribers

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Some allies of former President Donald Trump are urging him to publicly release surveillance footage of FBI agents executing a search warrant on his Mar-a-Lago residence. The proposal has drawn mixed reaction inside his orbit, CNN has learned.
The CCTV footage has been so closely held that aides to the former President aren’t sure if he has seen it in full himself, said a person close to Trump.
#AC360 #andersoncooper #CNN

Trump's 'Openly Inciting' Rhetoric Against DOJ Is Dangerously Familiar
by Chris Hayes
Aug 19, 2022

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump = 56 m
When will people realize that the atrocities being perpetrated by the FBI and DOJ having to do with the Raid and Break In of my home, Mar-a-Lago, or after years of other atrocities and unthinkable violations of freedom and the law, this has been going on for years, from the moment I came down the golden escalators in Trump Tower, right up until the present. At some point you have to look at what took place in the past to determine what is going on in the present...
... and nothing has ever happened like that which is going on in our Country right now. The law enforcement of our Country has become that of a Third World Nation, and I do not believe the people will stand for it -- between Fraudulent Elections, Open Borders, Inflation, giving our Military to the Enemy, and so much more -- how much are we all expected to take?
Never in our Country's history has there been a time where law enforcement has been so viciously and violently involved in the life and times of politics in our Nation. Even in light of the fact that they violated the Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, the Mueller Witch Hunt, lied many times before Congress, and on many occasions put out fraudulent information before the FISA Court, they continue. They have no shame. They are destroying our Country!

Aug 19, 2022, 16:31-16:32

“They are threatening law enforcement and the DOJ, claiming that the country will erupt into violence if they don't do what Trump wants,” says Chris Hayes on the response to the Mar-a-Lago probe. “The last time Trump's rhetoric was this openly inciting...a mob stormed the Capitol and people ended up dead.”



Transcript

>> [CHRI HAYES] GOOD EVENING FROM NEW YORK,
I'M CHRIS HAYES.
NEARLY TWO WEEKS OUT FROM THE
FBI SEARCH OF THE EX-PRESIDENT'S
FLORIDA HOME,
DONALD TRUMP'S EXCUSES KEEP
GETTING WORSE --
THEY KEEP CHANGING, AND THEY
KEEP GETTING WORSE.
HE IS NOW THREATENING TO TAKE
STEPS THAT COULD FURTHER
INFLAME TENSIONS, AND OUTRIGHT
ENDANGER FBI AGENTS.
NOW AT FIRST, TRUMP TRIED TO
PUSH NONSENSE CONSPIRACY
THEORIES ABOUT THE FBI PLANTING
THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT
MAR-A-LAGO, WHICH WAS FRANKLY
ABSURD. AND WHEN IT DIDN'T WORK,
HE LANDED ON A CONSISTENT EXCUSE:
"YES, THE DOCUMENTS WERE MINE,
YES, I HAD THEM WITH
ME, BUT IT'S FINE, BECAUSE I
DECLASSIFIED THEM."
>> [JOHN SOLOMON, FOX NEWS] THIS IS FROM PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S OFFICE.
IT JUST CAME IN A FEW MINUTES AGO.
"AS WE CAN ALL RELATE TO,
EVERYONE --
AS WE CAN ALL RELATE TO,
EVERYONE ENDS UP HAVING TO
BRING HOME THEIR WORK FROM TIME
TO TIME.
AMERICAN PRESIDENTS ARE NO
DIFFERENT.
PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN ORDER TO
PREPARE THE WORK THE NEXT DAY,
OFTEN TOOK DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, TO THE
RESIDENCE.
HE HAD A STANDING ORDER -- THERE'S
THE WORD I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR --
THAT DOCUMENTS REMOVED FROM THE
OVAL OFFICE AND TAKEN TO THE
RESIDENCE WERE DEEMED TO BE
DECLASSIFIED THE MOMENT HE
REMOVED THEM."
>> [CHRIS HAYES] [LAUGHING] NOW, THAT'S AN ALMOST
COMICAL MONOLOGUE THERE FROM
JOHN SOLOMON, WHOSE IS ESSENTIALLY
A MOUTHPIECE FOR
TRUMP.
THAT EXCUSE WAS PRETTY OBVIOUSLY A
LIE.
BUT WE HAVE GOT NEW REPORTING TO
ACTUALLY CONFIRM IT, NAIL IT DOWN.
"18 FORMER WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS,
INCLUDING TWO OF TRUMP'S WHITE
HOUSE CHIEFS OF STAFF, JOHN
KELLY, NICK MULVANEY, SAY
THERE WAS NO STANDING ORDER TO
DECLASSIFY DOCUMENTS."
IT WOULD CERTAINLY APPEAR THAT
TRUMP IS JUST LYING TO TRY AND
SAVE HIS HIDE.
SO RUDY GIULIANI, WHO APPEARS TO BE IN
A QUITE A BIT OF LEGAL TROUBLE, IS THE TARGET, AGAIN, OF THAT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IN GEORGIA,
WENT ON
THE FAR RIGHT OUTLET, NEWSMAX, TO TRY AND
CLEAR THINGS UP.
>> [RUDY GIULIANI] NOW, THEY WANT TO MAKE HIM
RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING TAKEN
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND
PRESERVED THEM.
REALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
ESPIONAGE ACT, IT'S NOT REALLY
ABOUT TAKING THE DOCUMENTS,
IT'S ABOUT DESTROYING THEM,
OR HIDING THEM,
OR GIVING THEM TO THE ENEMY.
>> [FOX NEWS HOST] RIGHT.
>> [RUDY GIULIANI] IT'S NOT ABOUT TAKING THEM
AND PUTTING THEM IN A PLACE
THAT IS ROUGHLY AS SAFE AS THEY
WERE IN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> [CHRIS HAYES] NOW THE ESPIONAGE ACT IS A
WEIRD AND IN SOME WAYS BAD
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT
THAT'S NOT TRUE, WHAT GIULIANI
IS SAYING.
ACCORDING TO TRUMP'S OWN FORMER
HEAD OF COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
QUOTE, "THE ESPIONAGE ACT
EXPLICITLY APPLIES TO THE
WILLFUL RETENTION OF CLASSIFIED
AND NONCLASSIFIED DEFENSE
RELATED DOCUMENTS IN AN
UNAUTHORIZED PLACE."

David Laufman
@DavidLaufmanLaw
Former @TheJusticeDept official completely misrepresents the scope of a law he was once responsible for enforcing. Espionage Act explicitly applies to willful retention of classified (and non-classified defense-related) in an unauthorized place. #ClassifiedDocuments

12:53 PM - Aug 19, 2022

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
IN FACT, IT'S ALL BUT BEEN ADMITTED
TO BY THE TRUMP PEOPLE.
SETTING THAT ASIDE, IT SURE
SOUNDS LIKE GIULIANI IS OPENLY
ADMITTING TRUMP TOOK THE
DOCUMENTS THAT HE APPARENTLY
KNEW WERE CLASSIFIED IN ORDER TO
PRESERVE THEM.
OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT TRUMP
WAS STORING AT LEAST SOME OF THE
DOCUMENTS IN THE BASEMENT OF
HIS GOLF RESORT, WHICH, NO
MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT, I
DON'T THINK IS SAFER THAN WITH
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
EVEN THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE INVESTIGATORS, AGAIN,
IN THIS LONG BACK AND FORTH, RIGHT,
WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE
PAPERS BACK AND SECURE, TOLD
TRUMP HE NEEDED TO PUT A LOCK ON THE DOOR
WHERE THE DOCUMENTS WERE KEPT, MEANING HIS ATTEMPTS
AT
AT PRESERVATION CERTAINLY LEFT SOMETHING TO BE
DESIRED.
NOW JUST WATCH TRUMP'S CURRENT LAWYER FLOUNDER
WHEN FOX NEWS LOBBED HER A SOFTBALL QUESTION ABOUT
HOW SECURE THE
DOCUMENT WERE.
>> [CHRISTINA BOBB] THEY ASKED FOR ONE MORE LOCK, ADD ANOTHER LOCK, WHICH
WE DID.
UH, AND THEN, FOR WHATEVER REASON,
THEY DECIDED THAT THEY STILL
NEEDED TO RAID THE PLACE.
>> [LAURA INGRAHAM] AND ONLY ONE OR TWO
PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO THAT ROOM,
TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE?
>>[CHRISTINA BOBB] THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
I MEAN, I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH, YOU KNOW,
THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT AREA.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS A VERY
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COULD
GET IN THERE.
>> [CHRIS HAYES] LAURA IS LIKE, "PLEASE WORK
WITH ME HERE. I'M TRYING TO
HELP YOU OUT."
NOT A VERY REASSURING ANSWER
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TOP
SECRET DOCUMENTS. AND IN CASE YOU HAVE
FORGOTTEN, OF COURSE, TRUMP
DOESN'T REALLY DESERVE THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT WHEN IT
COMES TO PRESERVING ANY KIND OF NATIONAL
SECURITY SECRETS. I MEAN, JUST
ONE EXAMPLE, AND THERE ARE TRULY
COUNTLESS, LISTEN TO THE MUSICIAN KID ROCK DESCRIBE
HOW TRUMP WAS APPARENTLY
DISCUSSING SENSITIVE ISSUES OF FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY WITH
A NUCLEAR POWER WITH
HIM WHEN HE VISITED THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> [KID ROCK] WE'RE LOOKING AT MAPS [DELETE], AND
I'M LIKE, AM I SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE [DELETE]
[TUCKER CARLSON] [LAUGHING]
[KID ROCK] I MAKE DIRTY RECORDS SOMETIMES.
BUT --
[TUCKER CARLSON] [LAUGHING]
>> [KID ROCK] ... DO IT HERE.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO
ABOUT NORTH KOREA?
[LAUGHING] I SAID "WHAT"?
I DON'T THINK I'M QUALIFIED TO ANSWER
THIS.
>> [CHRIS HAYES] THAT'S THE MOST RELATABLE I'VE
EVER FOUND KID ROCK,
AND HE'S RIGHT, HE'S NOT REALLY
QUALIFIED TO ANSWER.
BUT ALL THIS STUFF ASIDE, WHAT
IS LESS FUNNY THAN THE KIND OF
HAPHAZARD AND SOMEWHAT
RIDICULOUS ATTEMPTS BY TRUMP TO
WRIGGLE OUT OF THIS, WHAT HE'S
DOING NOW WITH HIS ATTACKS ON
THE FBI IS, I THINK, LEGITIMATELY
DANGEROUS.
SO IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT
TRUMP MADE THIS OVERTURE TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE NEW
YORK TIMES REPORTED THIS,
THROUGH AN EMISSARY.
AND HE SENT THIS MESSAGE TO
MERRICK GARLAND.

The New York Times
Trump Lawyer Told Justice Dept. That Classified Material Had Been Returned
by Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush
Aug. 13, 2022

"The country is on fire. What can I do to reduce the heat?"

HE WANTED TO GET IT TO MERRICK
GARLAND.
AND THE QUESTION WAS, "THE
COUNTRY IS ON FIRE.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE
HEAT?"
AND BY "COUNTRY ON FIRE," WHAT HE
MEANT WAS HE TALKED TO ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE
ENRAGED BY THE SEARCH ON
MAR-A-LAGO.
AND THERE'S A WAY TO READ THAT,
WHICH I THINK IS THE PLAIN READING OF IT, WHICH
IS OMINOUS, RIGHT? A THREAT.
TRUMP TELLING THE DOJ, "BE
CAREFUL, THAT HIS SUPPORTERS
ARE AGITATING FOR
VIOLENCE.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO."
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY
OBVIOUS THAT TRUMP IS NOT
INTERESTED IN COOLING TENSIONS
AT ALL.
NOW WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHO
INITIALLY LEAKED THE ACTUAL
MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH WARRANT TO
PRO TRUMP NEWS OUTLETS, INCLUDING BREITBART, ALTHOUGH I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO GUESS, BUT THE COPY OF THE DOCUMENT
THAT CIRCULATED IN SOME
FAR-RIGHT CIRCLES, DID NOT
REDACT THE NAMES OF THE FBI
OFFICERS INVOLVED, PUTTING
THEIR LIVES IN DANGER.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT BEING
HYPERBOLIC HERE. THIS IS NOT
JUST EMPTY THREATS.
JUST LAST WEEK, RIGHT AFTER THE
SEARCH, A MAN TOOK A GUN TO AN
FBI BUILDING IN OHIO, AND LATER
FIRED DIRECTLY AT OFFICERS IN A
STANDOFF AFTER POSTING ONLINE
ABOUT HE WANTED TO KILL THE FBI
AGENTS.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, A
PENNSYLVANIA MAN WAS ARRESTED
FOR ALLEGEDLY USING THE
FAR-RIGHT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
GAB TO SHARE EXLICIT THREATS
AGAINST THE FBI.
STATEMENTS LIKE, QUOTE," EVERY
SINGLE PIECE OF [BLANK] WHO
WORKS FOR THE FBI IN ANY
CAPACITY, FROM THE DIRECTOR
DOWN TO THE JANITOR WHO CLEANS
THEIR F-ING TOILETS, DESERVES TO DIE. YOU'VE
DECLARED WAR ON US AND
NOW IT'S OPEN SEASON ON YOU."
THE FLORIDA JUDGE WHO APPROVED
THE SEARCH WARRANT ON
MAR-A-LAGO IS NOW RECEIVING DEATH
THREATS, WHICH ARE APPARENTLY
SO SERIOUS, HIS SYNAGOGUE
CANCELED TONIGHT'S
SCHEDULED SERVICE. OKAY?
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS WHEN TRUMP
SENDS A MESSAGE TO MERRICK
GARLAND, "THE COUNTRY IS ON
FIRE."
AND NOW THE EX PRESIDENT IS
REPORTEDLY MULLING THE
POSSIBILITY OF RELEASING THE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA VIDEO OF
THE MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH,
WHICH WOULD, IT SEEMS, FURTHER
ENDANGER THOSE AGENTS BY MAKING
THEIR FACES PUBLIC TO TRUMP'S
ENRAGED SUPPORTERS.
AND IN A NEW STATEMENT THIS
EVENING, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE TOLD NBC NEWS QUOTE, "WE
WOULD HOPE THE VIDEO WOULD
ONLY PROVIDE IT IN A FORMAT THAT
OBSCURES THE FACES AND
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL."

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STATEMENT
ON MAR-A-LAGO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
"WE WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE PROVIDED IN A FORMAT THAT OBSCURES THE FACES AND IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF LAW ENFOREMENT PERSONNEL."

BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A
CONCERN.
JUST LISTEN TO HOW ANOTHER ONE OF
TRUMP'S LAWYERS PUT IT.
>> [ROB SCHMITT, TONIGHT] SO YOU CAN'T SEE THE AFFIDAVIT,
AND OF COURSE YOU CAN'T SEE
WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THE
RAID.
NOT A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS
GOVERNMENT.
>> [TRUMP LAWYER] WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE
THEIR IDENTITIES EITHER,
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT YOU TO
KNOW WHO DID THAT.
WELL, IF YOU ARE DOING IT
AS AN AGENT, I AM NOT SURE THAT
YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT.
LISTEN, FBI AGENTS, UNDERCOVER
AGENTS, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT WHEN YOU GO INTO A PRESIDENT'S
HOME, AN EX PRESIDENT'S HOME,
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
>> [CHRIS HAYES] THINK ABOUT THAT.
"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN?"
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
TRUMP CAN CARE LESS, RIGHT, ABOUT
PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IN FACT, JUST TODAY, HE USED
HIS WEIRD OFF-BRAND PLATFORM TO
FURTHER INFLAME THE COUNTRY,
TO REALLY INCITE --
HE REFERRED TO THE EXECUTION
OF THE SEARCH WARRANT AS QUOTE
"ATROCITIES BEING PERPETRATED BY
THE FBI AND DOJ, THAT THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OF OUR COUNTRY HAS
BECOME THAT OF A THIRD WORLD
NATION, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE
PEOPLE WILL STAND FOR IT.
HOW MUCH ARE WE ALL EXPECTED TO
TAKE?
QUOTE, NEVER IN OUR COUNTRY'S
HISTORY HAS THERE BEEN A TIME
WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN
SO VICIOUSLY AND VIOLENTLY
INVOLVED IN THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF POLITICS IN OUR NATION.
THEY HAVE NO SHAME. THEY ARE
DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY!"
AGAIN, SOMEONE SHOT UP AN FBI
HEADQUARTERS.
AFTER THE RAID.
HE KNOWS THAT!
THIS MORNING TRUMP'S LAWYER
AGAIN TOOK TO RIGHT-WING MEDIA
TO ISSUE, WHAT AGAIN, SURE SEEMED
LIKE A THREAT TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE.
>> [CHRISTINA BOBB] I DON'T SEE IT AS,
COMING DOWN, I ALSO THINK THE
NATION'S REACTION TO THIS RAID,
I THINK THE DEPARTMENT WAS
SURPRISED AT HOW ANGRY AMERICA
GOT, AND HOW FRUSTRATED WE ALL
ARE, THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE LOSING
OUR RIGHTS, AND THIS IS SO
OVERLY POLITICAL.
SO, I THINK IT'S CAUSING THEM
TO GO, "OH, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE WHAT
WE THINK WE HAVE."
SO I HOPE THAT THEY TAKE A SECOND
LOOK AND ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT
DOING SOMETHING AS STUPID AS
TRYING TO GO AFTER PRESIDENT
TRUMP, BECAUSE THEY'VE TRIED THIS BEFORE.
>> [CHRIS HAYES] AGAIN, LISTEN TO WHAT THEY
SAID THERE.
THEY BASICALLY ADMITTED TO THE
CRIME. RIGHT?
THEY HAVE THE DOCUMENTS, THEY
WILLFULLY RETAIN THEM.
RIGHT?
NOW THEY ARE NOT MAKING LEGAL
ARGUMENTS, THEY ARE JUST SAYING, "YOU
WILL DESTROY CIVIL PEACE IN THIS
COUNTRY, BECAUSE OUR FOLLOWERS
WILL ...", WHAT?
IF YOU DO THIS?
THEY ARE THREATENING LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE DOJ AND
CLAIMING THAT THE COUNTRY WILL
ERUPT INTO VIOLENCE IF THEY
DON'T DO WHAT TRUMP WANTS.
I GOTTA SAY, THE LAST TIME
THAT TRUMP'S RHETORIC WAS THIS
OPENLY INCITING -- HIS PLATFORM WAS MUCH HIGHER -- IT'S NOT THE SAME -- BUT THE LAST TIME IT WAS THIS INCITING, A MOB STORMED THE CAPITOL AND PEOPLE ENDED UP DEAD.

A former FBI agent discusses threats against the agency since the search of Trump’s home
Brooks and Marcus on threats against the FBI, Liz Cheney's future, Trump's grip on the GOP
PBS News Hour
Aug 19, 2022 6:45 PM EDT

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its agents have become targets of threats after the agency conducted a court-approved search of former President Trump's estate. Much of the heated rhetoric has come from Trump and his allies. One man has already been killed by law enforcement for trying to storm an Ohio field office. Retired Special Agent Frank Montoya joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Read the Full Transcript

Judy Woodruff:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its agents have become targets of threats in the days since the agency carried out a court-approved search of former President Donald Trump's estate.

Much of the heated rhetoric has come from Trump himself and his allies. And, already, one man was killed by law enforcement after attempting to storm a field office in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here with me now to discuss all of this is retired Special Agent Frank Montoya, who served 26 years in the FBI.

Frank Montoya, welcome back to the "NewsHour."

We have been planning to talk to you for a couple of days based on threats that we saw out there. But I just have to share that, just in the last hour or so, on this Friday afternoon, former President Trump has posted on social media strong comments

And I'm just going to quote from some of them. He refers to what he calls atrocities being perpetrated by the FBI and the DOJ. He says: "The law enforcement of our country has become that of a Third World nation and I do not believe that people will stand for it. Never in our country's history has there been a time where law enforcement has been so viciously and violently involved in the life and times of politics in our nation. They have no shame. They are destroying our country."

Has there been anything like this before in the history of the FBI?

Frank Motoya Jr., Former FBI Official:

Never.

I cannot think of any instance in my lifetime or even before then in the history of the FBI where something like was so egregiously foisted upon them.

Judy Woodruff:

How do you account for what's happened here? Because there was the search of former President Trump's estate in Florida, Mar-a-Lago. There was a court-approved warrant for that search.

And yet the president and his allies, his supporters have ever since then come down with a steady stream of attacks and threats on the FBI.

Frank Motoya Jr.:

Well, I think what it reveals is that there's a lot of concern amongst his inner circle and amongst — with him, in particular, about how close this investigation is getting to the truth.

The things that he's been saying all along, whether there was planted evidence, or that he had this unequivocal, unadulterated ability to declassify, or to just outright attack the men and women of the FBI, who are doing their jobs, who are responding to allegations from outside, reacting to it with a search warrant, and then, again, doing their jobs, collecting the evidence and removing that documentation.

And it really suggests that he's worried about what they're what they're finding, not what they will find, what they are finding, and what will happen next as far as potential prosecution.

So, yes, he's running scared. That's what it sounds like.

Judy Woodruff:

Well, the language has become, I mean, just — I mean, to say over the top is an understatement.

There are — we have seen quotes where they have written about killing the enemy. Steve Bannon, who's a longtime adviser to the former president, has talked about the FBI is like the Gestapo and talking about, we're at war.

How do — I mean, you have been in contact, I know, with — you have many friends in the bureau. How are they seeing all this? How are they — how do they — how are they taking it in?

Frank Motoya Jr.:

Well, it ticks them off.

I mean, they're trying to deal with it, take it in stride. Addressing threats, dealing with threats on a daily basis is what they do. But what really concerns them is the input, the possible or potential impact that this can have on family members, especially with their kids getting ready to go back to school, and with their colleagues, the intelligence analysts and the support personnel, who don't carry weapons for a living.

It really is making for a difficult work environment. Now, they're going to continue to do what they do. They're going to press forward. They're going to uphold their oath to support and defend the Constitution, to uphold the rule of law.

But, at the same time, we are in — I don't like to use this word. I don't think many people do. But we are in unprecedented times, because they truly are. We're looking at words coming out, not just out of his mouth, but other so-called responsible leaders in this country, who are constantly bashing individuals, professionals who are doing their jobs on a daily basis to the best of their abilities, following the rule of law.

And in addition to the threats that those words pose to them, it also undermines the very efforts that they're supposed to that — that they're attempting to uphold. It really — it's an attack on the Constitution, as much as it is on these agents that are really working hard to uphold it.

Judy Woodruff:

And that's a question I wanted to get to, because how is it possible for the agency to do its job when you have more and more of the American people who the FBI and DOJ, Department of Justice are serving not having confidence in the — not just not having confidence in them, but thinking they are the enemies of the people?

Frank Motoya Jr.:

Yes.

So, that's a really terrible side effect of all of this nonsensical rhetoric, that people are questioning the very reasons that the FBI exists. It's not just about questioning their honesty and integrity, but their reason for existing.

And there was a time when most Americans, many Americans, they looked at the rule of law and they looked at the Constitution as something worth upholding, as something that could be upheld. And, right now, with all of this negative language that's out there, all this negative rhetoric is really causing even normal, regular people, my neighbors, to question whether or not the FBI is doing what it's supposed to do, as opposed to acting like a rogue agency.

And the fact of the matter is, nothing could be farther from the truth about that rogue nature, about the adjectives, the words and descriptions that the former president is using to describe really good people, who are just like your neighbors, your — the folks that live in your community, whose children go to your schools, where they're just doing their jobs, reacting to the circumstances of our current environment, and doing it in the best way possible, at the same time, taking care of themselves and, more importantly, their friends and families.

Judy Woodruff:

All right, well, we are going to leave it there. We certainly are continuing to watch this as it develops, and, again, with these new comments today from the former president.

Frank Montoya, who served in the FBI for 26 years, thank you very much.

Frank Montoya Jr.:

Thank you.