Answering questions at the FBI field office in Omaha, Neb., FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that he could not comment on FBI agents searching Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s home, but he did say he’s “always worried.” on threats to law enforcement.
“Well, as I’m sure you can appreciate, that’s not something I can talk about,” Wray said, becoming the first senior Justice Department official to decline to comment on the record and on camera about the search for the former president’s property.
Multiple sources confirmed to ABC News that former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was raided by FBI agents on Monday.
Sources told ABC News the search began around 10 a.m
The former president released a statement Monday evening saying that federal investigators were there and had even broken into his safe.
It is standard practice for the Department of Justice not to comment on ongoing investigations.
FBI Director Christopher Wray waits to speak at a news conference, Aug. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Neb.
Charlie Neibergall/AP
There is an increase in violent threats against rank-and-file FBI agents in the wake of the attack, senior law enforcement officials told ABC News.
While not directly addressing those threats, Wray said any threat against law enforcement is cause for concern.
“Violence against law enforcement is not the answer, regardless of how upset someone is,” Wray said. “In recent years we have had an alarming increase in violence against law enforcement.”
The director said it takes a “special person” to lay down their life for a stranger, and that’s what law enforcement officers, including FBI agents, do every day.
When asked for more details about the threats against FBI agents, the FBI offered a generic statement and did not provide any specifics.
“The FBI is always concerned about violence and threats of violence against law enforcement, including the men and women of the FBI,” an unnamed FBI spokesperson said in an email to ABC News. “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to assess and respond to these reprehensible and dangerous threats. As always, we would like to remind the public that if they observe anything suspicious, to report it immediately to law enforcement.” order”.
As a reminder, Wray was appointed by former President Trump in 2017 and has not been outspoken on many controversial issues.
The president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) called recent threats against FBI agents in the wake of the Mar-a-Lago shooting “politically motivated threats of violence” and “unprecedented,” in a announced on Wednesday.
“Making threats against apolitical federal employees simply by applying the law to the facts of a case is not a democratic way to solve anything. It’s also illegal,” said Larry Cosme. “An investigation will not occur unless there are allegations of wrongdoing and it will not move forward unless there is evidence of wrongdoing.”