President Joe Biden’s Justice Department reportedly had plans to use lethal force during the FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s south Florida club and residence in August 2022. Recently obtained documents shared on the social media platform X suggest that agents were not only permitted to use their firearms at Trump’s Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago club, but also had medical personnel on standby to attend to potential injuries.
Despite the intense preparations, no shots were actually fired during the execution of the search warrant on August 8, 2022, as part of the government’s investigation into classified documents. The DOJ seemed prepared to resort to deadly force against anyone obstructing the operation, creating a tense atmosphere reminiscent of a Waco-like standoff. RealClear Investigations’ Julie Kelly disclosed unsealed documents detailing the instructions provided to agents prior to the Mar-a-Lago raid.
One of the documents stated, “Law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary …”
Tons of new unsealed filings on classified docs case–I will try to post as much as I can (there goes the workout) but this is mind-blowing.
FBI authorized the use of deadly force at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/f0lR6UifAH
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
It added that agents “planned to bring ‘Standard Issue Weapon[s],’ ‘Ammo,’ ‘Handcuffs,’ and ‘medium and large sized bolt cutters,’ but they were instructed to wear ‘unmarked polo or collared shirts’ and to keep ‘law enforcement equipment concealed.’”
Kelly shared another document that claimed agents were instructed to exercise caution in the presence of media cameras. Additionally, they were advised to be prepared for a potential confrontation with Trump and his Secret Service detail.
Oh my God
Armed FBI agents were preparing to confront Trump and even engage Secret Service if necessary.
They were going to go door to door to terrorize MAL guests and even pick the locks.
Gestapo pic.twitter.com/ViWahRIpTL
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
“Should [Trump] arrive at [Mar-a-Lago], [federal agents] will be prepared to engage with [Trump] and [Secret Service] Security Team.”
Additionally, per Kelly, agents were given directives on when to use “deadly force.”
Here is the use of deadly force instructions attached to the FBI's operational instructions.
Head of Washington FBI field office when this was executed: Steven D'Antuono.
Recall who authorized the raid: Merrick Garland
The FBI risked the lives of Donald Trump, his family, his… pic.twitter.com/XHHLDYqWgV
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) May 21, 2024
