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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 10 august 2022
GOP rallies around Trump following FBI search of his estate

By STEVE PEOPLES deep concerns of millions
AP National Politics Writer of Americans” over the
NEW YORK (AP) — For much search of Trump’s private
of the year, small cracks in residence.
Donald Trump’s political He stopped short of at-
support have been grow- tacking the FBI, however.
ing. Instead, he said Attorney
Dissatisfied Republican pri- General Merrick Garland
mary voters began to con- should “give a full account-
sider new presidential pros- ing to the American peo-
pects. GOP donors grap- ple as to why this action
pled with damaging rev- was taken and he must do
elations uncovered by the so immediately.”
Jan. 6 committee. S everal Hawley called the search
party leaders pondered “an unprecedented as-
challenging Trump for the sault on democratic norms
party’s 2024 nomination. and the rule of law.” He
But after the FBI executed called for Garland’s res-
a search warrant at his Flor- ignation or impeachment
ida estate, the Republican and the removal of FBI Di-
Party unified swiftly behind rector Wray.
the former president. Cotton said Garland had
Florida Gov. Ron DeSan- “weaponized” the Justice
tis, who likely represents Armed Secret Service agents stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump’s Mar- Department against his po-
Trump’s strongest potential a-Lago estate, late Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. Associated Press litical enemies. “There will
primary challenger, de- be consequences for this,”
scribed the Biden adminis- declared. The FBI search “law and order.” are, then they have every he warned.
tration as a “regime” and also seemed to trigger a “The FBI director was ap- right to do it.” Also from Arkansas, Gov.
called Monday’s Mar-a- shift among Trump’s advis- pointed by Donald Trump,” And some other Republi- Asa Hutchinson, still anoth-
Lago search for improp- ers, who had been private- said House Speaker Nancy can officials seemed to ex- er Republican weighing a
erly taken classified docu- ly urging him to wait until Pelosi. press continued concerns 2024 run, called the search
ments “another escalation after the midterm elections Asked if the raid might hurt about Trump by refusing to “unprecedented and
in the weaponization of to announce his intention Democrats in the Novem- weigh in at all. alarming.” But like Pence,
federal agencies against to seek the presidency ber elections, she said, The relatively short list of he added, “We must see
the Regime’s political op- again. Suddenly, some of “You’re talking about if the those GOP leaders who re- the probable cause affida-
ponents.” those same advisers were Justice Department de- mained silent Tuesday af- vit before making a judg-
The GOP push to portray urging him to launch his cides to have a warrant to ternoon was led by Senate ment.”
Trump as the victim of a campaign before the No- go in because they suspect Majority Leader Mitch Mc- The search intensified the
politicized Justice Depart- vember elections. something is justified, it’s Connell, who has privately months-long probe into
ment ignored the potential Trump stoked such specu- going to have an impact encouraged his party to how classified documents
criminal misconduct that lation in the hours after the on the election? No, no, move past Trump. The Ken- ended up in boxes of White
justified the search in the search by posting a cam- no, no, no.” tucky Republican declined House records located
eyes of a federal judge. It paign-style video on social Some of Trump’s most vocal to react when asked to at Mar-a-Lago earlier this
overlooked Trump’s role in media. “The best is yet to Republican critics still shied weigh in during a stop in his year. A separate grand jury
hiring now-vilified FBI Direc- come,” he said. away from embracing the home state, which is reeling is investigating efforts by
tor Chris Wray, who also He followed up with a fund- former president. And it from devastating storms. Trump and allies to overturn
served as a high-ranking raising appeal, making it was unclear how rank-and- “I’m here today to talk the results of the 2020 presi-
official in a Republican-led personal by declaring “it’s file Republican voters and about the flood and recov- dential election.
Justice Department. The important that you know independents frustrated by ery from the flood,” McCo- In late June, long before
Biden White House, mean- that it wasn’t just my home Trump’s divisive leadership nnell said. the latest development,
while, said it had no prior that was violated — it was might be moved by the But the overwhelming ma- 48% of U.S. adults said that
knowledge of the search. the home of every patriotic new developments. jority — from House Repub- Trump should be charged
But the robust defense American who I have been Former New Jersey Gov. lican Leader Kevin McCar- with a crime for his role in
serves as a fresh reminder fighting for.” Chris Christie, a former fed- thy to DeSantis, accused the Jan. 6 attack on the
of the former president’s In Columbia, South Caro- eral prosecutor and one the Biden administration of Capitol, according to a
enduring grip on the GOP, lina, Sen. Lindsey Graham of many Republicans con- “weaponizing” the Justice poll from The Associated
driven by an ability to use a said he spoke with Trump sidering a 2024 presidential Department and ignored Press-NORC Center for Pub-
sense of grievance among and felt sure another cam- bid, noted Tuesday that a any potential wrongdoing lic Affairs Research.
many Republican voters paign was coming. federal judge had to sign by Trump. Views on Trump’s criminal
toward government and “One thing I can tell you,” off on the warrant. “The GOP now fully em- liability broke down pre-
other institutions. Trump Graham said. “I believed “The former president is braces the notion that dictably along party lines,
tapped into that animos- he was going to run before. presumed innocent,” Chris- Trump should, indeed, be with 86% of Democrats and
ity to overcome two im- I’m stronger in my belief tie said in an interview. “On above the law, and that 10% of Republicans saying
peachments and the fall- now.” the other hand, we can’t Trump 2.0 will be a bon- Trump should be charged.
out from an insurrection. As Republicans rallied be- immediately impugn the fire of vengeance,” wrote Still, the fact that nearly
His allies said on Tuesday hind Trump, Democrats motives of the prosecutors Republican commentator half the country believed
that the FBI search would pushed back against GOP just because they’re from Charlie Sykes, a frequent he should be prosecuted
only strengthen his position claims of political interfer- another political party.” Trump critic. represents a remarkable
again. ence, without evidence. “It’s an extraordinary ac- Former Vice President Mike position for the former
“Trump just won the 2024 Some accused the GOP of tion. And there better be Pence, who is gearing up president, pointing to the
primary,” pro-Trump com- a departure from its long- some pretty extraordinary for a presidential run of his difficulties he could face in
mentator Jack Posobiec standing commitment to facts to underlie it. If there own, said he shared “the another White House run.q