House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) threatened on Monday to open an investigation into the Justice Department’s search of former President Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago residence if the Republicans take back the majority in the House in the midterm elections.
“I’ve seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization,” McCarthy said. “When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned.”
“Preserve your documents and clear your calendar,” McCarthy said, singling out Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The Justice Department used a search warrant on Mar-a-Lago as a part of their investigation into the former President’s alleged mishandling of classified White House documents. In February, the National Archives called on the Justice Department to look into whether or not Trump violated the law after finding that 15 boxes of records had been taken to his Florida estate. Under the Presidential Records Act, presidents are required to preserve and turn in all memos, letters, emails and papers that they touched to the National Archives at the end of their term.
Other Republicans were also unhappy with the way the search was conducted.
“What was on the warrant? What were you really doing? What were you looking for? Why not talk to President Trump and have him give the information you’re after? This is unbelievable,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle.
“We’re 100 days away from midterm elections. President Trump is likely going to run again in 2024. No one is above the law. The law must be above politics,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) added in a statement on Twitter. “However, launching such an investigation of a former President this close to an election is beyond problematic.”
