Trump Says DOJ — Let Me Help You Or ‘Horrible Things Will Happen’: Ex-president offers to ‘lower the temperature’ in thinly veiled warning after Mar-a-Lago raid sparks attacks on FBI would have
- Donald Trump confirmed he told the DOJ he will “do whatever I can to help the country” after outrage erupted after the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago property
- “People are so angry about what’s happening,” Trump told Fox. “What we can do to help – because the temperature must be brought down in the country”
- Added warning: “If not, terrible things will happen”
- A report Sunday revealed that Trump had a representative who told a DOJ official he had a message for Attorney General Merrick Garland
- “The country is on fire. What can I do to reduce the heat?’ was the message
Donald Trump appears to have changed his mind in recent days, claiming he will do “anything” to “help the country” as he deals with the aftermath of the FBI’s search of his home in Mar-a-Lago last week deals.
The former president confirmed to Fox News that he had offered his support to the Justice Department but “had not heard” if they would accept his offer.
“I will do what I can to help the country,” Trump said.
The latest comments come after a New York Times report over the weekend revealed that a person close to Trump contacted a DOJ official to deliver a message from the President: “The country is on fire. What can I do to reduce the heat?’
It was portrayed Thursday, just before Attorney General Merrick Garland made his first public statements about the raid, claiming he personally authorized his agency to seek a search warrant on Trump’s Palm Beach home.
Trump confirmed in an exclusive interview with Fox Monday — the first since the raid — that his representatives had reached out to the DOJ to offer help amid outrage at his base over the FBI’s raid on his private home.
“People are so angry about what’s happening,” Trump told Fox when asked if he could come forward. ‘Whatever we can do to help – because the temperature in the country needs to be brought down. If not, terrible things will happen.’
He added: “The people of this country will not tolerate any more fraud.”
The raid was related to an investigation into Trump, who illegally returned White House documents to his Florida home after leaving office.
Donald Trump confirmed he told the Justice Department he would “do whatever I can to help the country” following outrage last week after the FBI searched his Mar-a-Lago home. Pictured: The former President exits Trump Tower in Manhattan as his Florida residence was searched Monday, August 8, 2021
A report Sunday revealed that Trump had a representative tell a DOJ official he had a message for Attorney General Merrick Garland: “The country is on fire. What can I do to reduce the heat?’
The Presidential Record Act requires presidents to retain all official documents and materials from their term of office to establish that they belong to the people and not to the incumbent.
During last Monday’s raid, Eric Trump told , 30 FBI agents came to Mar-a-Lago, refused to give a copy of the warrant to his father’s attorney, Christina Bobb, and ended up letting her waiting for the driveway.
The agents confiscated secret records, including those marked as top secret.
Trump denies this, claiming that all documents in his possession have been declassified and insists the agents took some materials covered by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.
“The country is in a very dangerous position,” Trump told Fox on Monday. “There is tremendous anger, the likes of which I’ve never seen before, at all the scams and this new one – years of scams and witch hunts, and now this.”
“If there’s anything we can do to help, I and my people would certainly be willing to do it,” he added.
Claiming he hadn’t heard from the DOJ about his offer of help, Trump said, “I think they would want the same thing — I’ve never seen anything like it.” It is a very dangerous time for our country.”
Trump supporters are gathering near his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday, August 14 – nearly a week after his Florida club was raided
Trump accused the FBI of “breaking into” and “surreptitiously assaulting” his home.
Eric told he received a call last Monday morning informing him of the upcoming search in Mar-a-Lago.
The raid came after what appeared to be a two-month breakdown in cooperation and after Trump had already turned over 15 boxes of White House materials to the National Archives.