Sen. Johnson Demands Explanation for Mar-a-Lago Raid, Calls on Whistleblowers to Expose Agency Failures

OSHKOSH – On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray demanding a complete explanation for the raid on former President Donald Trump’s residence and calling on whistleblowers at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI to hold their agencies accountable.

In July 2022, Sen. Johnson sent a letter Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Way, Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Avril Haines and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz regarding whistleblower claims that suggest FBI officials participated in a scheme to undermine derogatory information connected to Hunter Biden by falsely suggesting it was disinformation.

This pattern of corruption and lack of transparency by our federal agencies without stated justification “raise serious questions regarding the integrity of the FBI and your agencies ability to do its job without political bias,” wrote Sen. Johnson.

Speaking directly to agency whistleblowers, Sen. Johnson added, “If you have witnessed wronging at your agency, please come forward and share your concerns with my office. You have a right to talk to Congress.”

Read more about the letter in the Daily Caller.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

August 10, 2022 

The Honorable Merrick Garland

Attorney General

Department of Justice

 

The Honorable Christopher Wray

Director

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

 

Dear Attorney General Garland and Director Wray:

              The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raid on former President Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago is deeply concerning.  It occurred almost two weeks after I sent a letter to both of you highlighting recent whistleblower allegations which raise serious questions regarding the integrity of the FBI and your agencies’ ability to do its job without political bias.[1]

              The FBI’s unprecedented actions against former President Trump, without any stated justification, only add to the mounting evidence of corruption within our federal law enforcement agencies and is yet another example of a multi-tiered system of justice and federal agencies being weaponized against the left’s political opponents. 

              I understand other members of Congress have requested that you provide a full explanation for the raid at the former president’s residence.  I request that information immediately.  However, given your history of lack of transparency and obstruction of my investigations, I am not confident that your explanation for the raid will be forthright, honest, or ease anyone’s concerns.

              Instead, I want to reiterate my message to the brave men and women who work at the FBI and the Department of Justice who are frustrated and concerned with the direction your agencies are taking:

              If you have witnessed wronging at your agency, please come forward and share your concerns with my office.  You have a right to talk to Congress.

              By exposing the truth, Congress can hold accountable those who continue to abuse our system of justice. 

Sincerely,

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[1] Letter from Sen. Ron Johnson, Ranking Member, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, to Merrick Garland, Attorney General, Dep’t of Justice, Avril Haines, Director, Office of National Intelligence, Christopher A. Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, Dep’t of Justice, July 26, 2022.