Biden blasts MAGA Congress members, ‘sickening’ threats against FBI
US President Joe Biden condemned violent threats against FBI agents who searched predecessor Donald Trump's home as "sickening," as he called for more police funding and an assault weapons ban in Pennsylvania.
Launching his first of three visits in a week to the political battleground, Biden angrily denounced people who have lashed out at federal law enforcement officials involved in the unprecedented search of the Republican former president's Florida home on August 8.
"It's sickening to see the new attacks on the FBI, threatening the life of law enforcement agents and their families for simply carrying out the law and doing their job," Biden said. "I want to say it as clearly as I can. There is no place in this country - no place - for endangering the lives of law enforcement. No place. None. Never. Period. I'm opposed to defunding the police. I'm also opposed to defunding the FBI."
Earlier in August, the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security warned of an increase in threats following the search of Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago, when agents removed what prosecutors described as 11
sets of classified documents, including some marked top secret, as part of a criminal investigation.
In recent weeks, Biden has largely side-stepped conversations about the investigation, with the White House saying the Justice Department operates independently. The Biden administration's intelligence chief recently opened a probe into the national security risks of potential classified disclosure.
Biden has sharpened his attack on members of the Republican Party devoted to Trump, a theme expected to play heavily in a major prime-time address during another visit to Pennsylvania on Thursday.
"Let me tell this to my MAGA [Make America Great Again] Republican friends in Congress. Don't tell me you support law enforcement if you won't condemn what happened on the 6th," he said, referring to the January 6, 2021 riot by Trump supports at the Capitol.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel pushed back against Biden's message, saying in a statement on Tuesday, "The agenda of Biden Democrats has left Pennsylvania communities less safe, and this is why Pennsylvanians will be voting for a new direction in November."
Launching his first of three visits in a week to the political battleground, Biden angrily denounced people who have lashed out at federal law enforcement officials involved in the unprecedented search of the Republican former president's Florida home on August 8.
"It's sickening to see the new attacks on the FBI, threatening the life of law enforcement agents and their families for simply carrying out the law and doing their job," Biden said. "I want to say it as clearly as I can. There is no place in this country - no place - for endangering the lives of law enforcement. No place. None. Never. Period. I'm opposed to defunding the police. I'm also opposed to defunding the FBI."
Earlier in August, the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security warned of an increase in threats following the search of Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago, when agents removed what prosecutors described as 11
sets of classified documents, including some marked top secret, as part of a criminal investigation.
In recent weeks, Biden has largely side-stepped conversations about the investigation, with the White House saying the Justice Department operates independently. The Biden administration's intelligence chief recently opened a probe into the national security risks of potential classified disclosure.
Biden has sharpened his attack on members of the Republican Party devoted to Trump, a theme expected to play heavily in a major prime-time address during another visit to Pennsylvania on Thursday.
"Let me tell this to my MAGA [Make America Great Again] Republican friends in Congress. Don't tell me you support law enforcement if you won't condemn what happened on the 6th," he said, referring to the January 6, 2021 riot by Trump supports at the Capitol.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel pushed back against Biden's message, saying in a statement on Tuesday, "The agenda of Biden Democrats has left Pennsylvania communities less safe, and this is why Pennsylvanians will be voting for a new direction in November."
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