PALM BEACH, Fla. — Attorney General Merrick Garland came to the defense of the Department of Justice and FBI on Thursday amid criticism of the search at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
"I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked," Garland said. "Every day they protect the American people from violent crime, terrorism and other threats to their safety while safeguarding our civil rights."
The AG is now calling for the court to unseal the search warrant from Monday so the public can find out why the FBI wanted to search the Mar-a-Lago resort and what they were looking for there.
Garland also stated he was in favor of the search warrant.
"Upholding the rule of law means applying the law evenly, without fear or favor," he said. "Under my watch, that is precisely what the Justice Department is doing."
The FBI released the following statement:
"Unfounded attacks on the integrity of the FBI erode respect for the rule of law and are a grave disservice to the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others. Violence and threats against law enforcement, including the FBI, are dangerous and should be deeply concerning to all Americans. Every day I see the men and women of the FBI doing their jobs professionally and with rigor, objectivity, and a fierce commitment to our mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution. I am proud to serve alongside them."
Christopher Wray
FBI Director
The former president took to his social media app, Truth Social, in response.
"My attorneys and representatives were cooperating fully," he said, in part. "The government could have had whatever they wanted, if we had it."
Trump has until 3 p.m. Friday to say whether he objects to unsealing the warrant, but posted on Truth Social that he wouldn't.
"Not only will I not oppose the release of documents related to the unAmerican, unwarranted, and unnecessary raid and break-in of my home in Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago. I am going a step further by encouraging the immediate release of these documents," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Thursday night.