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After Mar-a-Lago Raid, FBI Now Combing Through Social Media Profiles

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued a joint warning following the former’s raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

According to a report by CBS News, the agencies issued a joint memo to law enforcement warning of a new potential for “domestic terrorism.”

“The FBI and DHS have observed an increase in threats to federal law enforcement and, to a lesser extent, other law enforcement and government officials following the FBI’s recent execution of a search warrant in Palm Beach, Florida,” said the joint bulletin, according to the outlet. “These threats are occurring primarily online and across multiple platforms, including social media sites, web forums, video sharing platforms, and image boards. The FBI and DHS would like to ensure that law enforcement, court, and government personnel are aware of the range of threats and criminal and violent incidents.”

The bulletin went on to mention a possible nuclear weapons connection.

It warned that “the FBI and DHS have observed an increase in violent threats posted on social media against federal officials and facilities, including a threat to place a so-called dirty bomb in front of FBI Headquarters and issuing general calls for ‘civil war’ and ‘armed rebellion.'”

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The bulletin went on to describe the threats as “specific in identifying proposed targets, tactics, or weaponry” before tying in the recent FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

“Since 8 August 2022, the FBI and DHS have identified multiple articulated threats and calls for the targeted killing of judicial, law enforcement, and government officials associated with the Palm Beach search, including the federal judge who approved the Palm Beach search warrant,” it added. “The FBI and DHS have also observed the personal identifying information of possible targets of violence, such as home addresses and identification of family members, disseminated online as additional targets.”

The bulletin then cited the Cincinnati, Ohio “gunman” Ricky Shiffer, who tried to enter the FBI’s Field Office there using a nail gun.

“On 11 August 2022, Ricky Shiffer, Jr., wearing a technical vest and armed with an AR-style rifle and a nail gun, attempted to forcibly enter the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. When uniformed officers responded to Shiffer’s attempt to break a glass barrier, he fled the scene,” the bulletin said.

“A pursuit ensued, and Shiffer entered a standoff with FBI and law enforcement officers after firing multiple shots at responding officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP). After a prolonged standoff, OSHP, with FBI SWAT support, attempted to arrest Shiffer, resulting in his death,” it noted further.

“As a result of recent activities, we assess that potential targets of DVE violence moving forward could include law enforcement, judicial officials, individuals implicated in conspiracy theories and perceived ideological opponents who challenge their worldview,” the joint bulletin went on. “Drivers that could escalate the threat environment include possible future law enforcement or legal actions against individuals associated with the Palm Beach search, statements by public officials which incite violence, high profile successful DVE attacks that inspire copycats, or the emergence of additional conspiracy theories.”

“The threats we have observed, to date, underscore that DVEs may view the 2022 midterm election as an additional flashpoint around which to escalate threats against perceived ideological opponents, including federal law enforcement personnel,” the bulletin to law enforcement said.

Regarding the Trump raid, Attorney General Merrick Garland is also facing a wave of questions.

During an announcement at the Department of Justice last week, Garland noted that the DOJ filed a motion to unseal the search warrant for Mar-a-Lago, while he also said he “personally approved” the search of the former president’s home.

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The FBI’s raid was allegedly tied to boxes of classified information that Trump had supposedly taken to his Florida estate.

Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul blasted the raid and called for an investigation into the AG.

“Without question, I think the order to allow the raid on Mar-a-Lago on Trump’s house has to be revealed,” Paul said. “It’s going to have to wait until November till there’s a full investigation.”

“And I’ve never been a fan of overusing impeachment, but I think there has to be an investigation. And if it warrants it, there’s going to have to be a look at whether or not the attorney general has misused his office for political purposes. Have they gone after a political opponent? I mean, this is beyond the pale.”

“No one would have ever imagined before that we would be using or one political party would be using the FBI to attack their political opponents,” Paul said. “Now, this is really something that’s going to require an investigation. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the investigation leads to abuse of power that this could even lead to an impeachment of the attorney general.”

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