Pence demands DOJ 'partisanship' be addressed after 'unprecedented' FBI raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago
Former Vice President Mike Pence demanded that the "appearance of continued partisanship" by the Justice Department be addressed after the "unprecedented" raid on former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
"I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump," Pence tweeted Tuesday. "No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history."
"After years where FBI agents were found to be acting on political motivation during our administration, the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department must be addressed," Pence said, adding that the raid "undermines public confidence in our system of justice."
Pence's statement emerged only after many other Republicans had commented before him, despite the close relationship Pence says he had with Trump in the White House.
Senior Senate Republicans, who have themselves reacted only gradually, Tuesday demanded that the FBI immediately release information about its raid of former President Trump's Florida estate, which they are calling a major law enforcement escalation against a former president.
The statements, from GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Vice Conference Chair Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Rick Scott, R-Fla., come as top Senate Republicans overall have been slower to comment on the raid than their counterparts in House GOP leadership.
Pence added: "Attorney General Garland must give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately."