The FBI secretly warned about an increase in threats from "domestic violent extremists" following the controversial raid of Mar-A-Lago, newly obtained documents show.
The eight pages of records, obtained by Judicial Watch, are further evidence of the Biden administration's vigilance toward so-called domestic extremists who were often conflated with President Trump and his MAGA movement.
“The FBI raid on President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home was an incredible abuse of power based on false allegations. The raid was followed by the FBI distracting the public with a politicized document slyly tying President Trump and other critics to threats over this abuse,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “I don’t trust the FBI.”
The internal documents show that Biden officials were concerned that the unprecedented raid of a former president's residence could radicalize some Americans to commit violence.
Within days of the raid, FBI Special Agent in charge Bob DeWitt sent a mass e-mail to numerous agencies warning about an uptick in threats to law enforcement.
Trump is mentioned nowhere in an enclosed intelligence bulletin, which dryly alludes to "the FBI’s recent execution of a court-authorized search warrant in Palm Beach, Florida."
"Colleagues, I wanted to provide you an update on the FBI’s response to the heightened threats against law enforcement following the FBI’s recent investigation actions in Palm Beach, Florida," DeWitt wrote. "Attached is a Joint Intelligence Bulletin that provides information on the potential threats posed by domestic violent extremists following this event."
"To date we have received [redacted]. I wanted to thank all of you for your continued partnership and support of the Miami Field Office. [Redacted]."
The intelligence memo cites the case of an armed man who was shot dead during an August 2022 standoff after he tried to breach an FBI office in Cincinnati.
The partially redacted document includes a list of behaviors to look out for, such as the purchase of military-style tactical equipment or the "unusual" acquisition of weapons. The memo predicted that the 2022 midterm elections could inspire violence from so-called extremists, a forecast that did not come to pass.
"Many of these threats include references to the perception that the 2020 election was fraudulent and other claims of government overreach, which are narratives that have mobilized DVEs in the past," the document said.
The Biden administration made combatting so-called domestic extremists a focus of its national security agenda, often tying the nebulous threat with President Trump's MAGA movement. The government's efforts against so-called terrorists sparked opposition from Republicans, who accused the administration of targeting civilians engaged in protected political speech.
As part of its effort to end the weaponization of government, the Trump administration has reassigned a top DOJ official who lobbied for the Mar-A-Lago raid and notoriously dismissed the "optics" of it in an argument with the former head of the FBI's Washington field office, who preferred a voluntary search.
