All of Florida's congressional delegation has opened up about the recent FBI raid of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Republicans and conservatives have voiced immense criticism of the raid, and more continue to speak out. The Floridian has covered the reactions of Governor Ron DeSantis (R), Senator Rick Scott (R), and many others
Monday night as the raid happened, Senator Marco Rubio (R) describes the raid as "something we have seen many times in 3rd world Marxist dictatorships."
Using government power to persecute political opponents is something we have seen many times from 3rd world Marxist dictatorships
But never before in America
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 9, 2022
"Using government power to persecute political opponents is something we have seen many times from 3rd world Marxist dictatorships. But never before in America," Rubio's tweet reads.
Similarly, on Tuesday morning, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-1) offered his take on the raid, calling it "a political performance against Trump," and says that the administrative state "has been weaponized against our people in a very fascist way."
The FBI raid of Mar-A-Lago is the most defining moment of the Joe Biden presidency. It was a political performance against Trump.
The antidote has to be NOT ONE MORE damn penny for this administrative state that has been weaponized against our people in a very fascist way. pic.twitter.com/Geh52n1mbz
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) August 9, 2022
"The FBI raid of Mar-A-Lago is the most defining moment of the Joe Biden presidency. It was a political performance against Trump. The antidote has to be NOT ONE MORE damn penny for this administrative state that has been weaponized against our people in a very fascist way," the full tweet reads.
A short few hours later, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-12) tweeted a full statement from his press release rather than text. He states that the raid is "truly outrageous" and that the Biden administration is "weaponizing federal agencies to target political rivals while ignoring the disturbing conduct of their own allies."
— Gus Bilirakis (@RepGusBilirakis) August 9, 2022
In a fashion similar to Bilirakis, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-19) calls the raid "unconscionable" and "an assault on our Constitutional Republic."
The raid on former President Trump's home at Mara-a-Lago is unconscionable. Today's unprecedented invasion of former President Trump's private residence is an assault on our Constitutional Republic and reeks of political retribution.
Read my complete statement below: pic.twitter.com/I5QeMpCGdN
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) August 9, 2022
"The raid on former President Trump's home at Mara-a-Lago is unconscionable. Today's unprecedented invasion of former President Trump's private residence is an assault on our Constitutional Republic and reeks of political retribution. Read my complete statement below," stated Rep. Donalds.
At least four Florida Democrats have spoken about the raid so far on Twitter. The most prominent is Charlie Crist, who says that the FBI's raid was legal and that Gov. DeSantis "has yet to say anything about the heinous Nazis in our state who have been rallying in support of him," referring to the July 24th incident.
Ron DeSantis attacks law enforcement for legally raiding Mar-a-Lago while he’s yet to say anything about the heinous Nazis in our state who've been rallying in support of him.
Also, attacking a private company, Disney, for free speech is about as "banana republic" as it gets.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) August 9, 2022
"Ron DeSantis attacks law enforcement for legally raiding Mar-a-Lago while he’s yet to say anything about the heinous Nazis in our state who've been rallying in support of him. Also, attacking a private company, Disney, for free speech is about as "banana republic" as it gets," says Crist.
Likewise, Rep. Darren Soto (D-9) states that Trump's supposed unauthorized removal of classified documents from the White House "has been reported on for months," and that Trump is "finally being held accountable for his actions."
Fmr Pres Trump is alleged to have unlawfully taken boxes of classified documents down to Mar-A-Lago.
This has been reported on for months.
He’s finally being held accountable for his actions.
Apparently a few of my colleagues are surprised by this. https://t.co/RXtha8jKZp
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) August 9, 2022
"Fmr. Pres. Trump is alleged to have unlawfully taken boxes of classified documents down to Mar-A-Lago. This has been reported on for months. He’s finally being held accountable for his actions. Apparently a few of my colleagues are surprised by this," tweets Soto.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-24) makes the somewhat most neutral opinion from Democrats, saying that she trusts the justice system to "bring to light any crimes committed by the former President."
No one is above the law. I trust our justice system to investigate and bring to light any crimes committed by the former President. pic.twitter.com/k7TCfCK3l4
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) August 9, 2022
"No one is above the law. I trust our justice system to investigate and bring to light any crimes committed by the former President," stated Rep. Wilson.
Finally, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz refers to Sen. Rick Scott's comparison of the raid to the Gestapo "factually errant" and "repulsive."
To compare the serving of a search warrant authorized by a Federal judge and @TheJusticeDept to conduct by Nazi secret police who directed the deportation of Jews to ghettos, concentration camps & mass murder sites is not just factually errant and irresponsible, it is repulsive. https://t.co/ImF8LhFFfG
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) August 9, 2022
"To compare the serving of a search warrant authorized by a Federal judge and @TheJusticeDept to conduct by Nazi secret police who directed the deportation of Jews to ghettos, concentration camps & mass murder sites is not just factually errant and irresponsible, it is repulsive," the full tweet reads.