GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is facing harsh criticism after seemingly comparing the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago to the attack on the US Capitol.
Gaetz’s comments came during an interview on NTD News, where he promised to launch a broad investigation into the DOJ’s decision to search classified documents at the former president’s home when Republicans take control of the house in November.
“Republicans are going to take control after these midterms and we are going to dissect this decision like it was January 6,” the self-described “Florida man” said.
“We’re going to get into every official with anything to do with authorizing it, allowing it, because this is a very dangerous thing to do for our national unity. It’s a very dangerous thing to do to the American brand worldwide, he added. “And so I think uncovering this very corrupt decision calculus will be at the top of the agenda when Republicans take control and what happens next, how will you respond to what’s happened?
Gaetz, who is under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking, has attacked the Department of Justice for looking into whether he broke federal law by recruiting women online for sex and paying them, including someone who would have been only 17 at the time.
According to Cassidy Hutchinson —a former aide to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows— Gaetz was one of several members of Congress who were said to have asked Trump for pardons for potential crimes before Trump left office.
Predictably, Twitter users wasted no time responding to Gaetz’s remarks.
Check some of the responses below:
When Republicans retake power, we will investigate the FBI’s political raid of Mar-A-Lago. pic.twitter.com/yrfsfhewLG
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 7, 2022
You will be in prison for pedophilia.
— Billy Manziel III (@matthewschee9) September 7, 2022
Pretty easy, bad guy took things he shouldn't have that are very important and secretive. Good guys took them back to protect the US and others. Investigation finished
— Can we go back to 2016 please (@YoMoRising) September 7, 2022
So bizarre. More and more information daily compromising national security and your worried about the DOJ?
— FilmFibre (@Kneeul) September 7, 2022
— Ali B (@alipalliB) September 7, 2022
@Trump stole 11,000 government documents and photos
18 top secret
54 secret
31 confidential
90 now empty folders: 48 marked classified
FBI still looking for more documents and accomplices
Who has @Trump already sold US secrets to?#Espionage #Treasonhttps://t.co/K7MA5OeBQu pic.twitter.com/y4Mx9C5f7L
— Kevin English (@KevinEn19473152) September 7, 2022
Pardon me… pic.twitter.com/z79MY4uwUs
— CAMPBIZZLE (@happycrazytown) September 7, 2022
C'mon Matthew… You know the orange man is a Russian spy
— ThumbPicKen (@ThumbPicKen) September 7, 2022
— Michel Levert 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 ☮️ (@Quebec_AM) September 7, 2022
You mean the processing of a search warrant by the @FBI headed by Trump’s hand picked Director?
— JP10E (@jp10E) September 7, 2022
Stop threatening to break the law. TFG broke the law when he took national secrets viewable only to roughly a dozen people. Time to admit it unless he’s holding your crimes against you
— Stephanie MacLean (@Dizzybutterflyy) September 7, 2022