Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson defended the FBI against attacks from the GOP on Sunday (August 14).
In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the Republican Governor defended the FBI’s Raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, saying they were “simply carrying out their responsibilities under the law.”
His remarks are a stark contrast to others in his party who have called the raid a “hoax” and “witch hunt” and accused the FBI of participating in “political weaponization.”
Hutchinson’s comments were also prompted by host Briana Keilar, playing footage of other GOP leaders disparaging the FBI.
Keilar played two clips. The first one included comments by New York Representative Elise Stefanik that criticized the FBI’s actions as “a complete abuse and overreach of its authority.”
In the second clip, Florida Senator Rick Scott accused the federal government of being like the “Gestapo” and going after people.
When the footage had concluded, Keilar asked Hutchinson: “Are Trump and some Republicans putting the lives of the FBI’s men and women at risk?”
The Arkansas Governor responded by stating that “the GOP is going to be the party of supporting law enforcement” that “includes the FBI.”
Hutchinson continued his answer, saying that federal law enforcement officials “do extraordinarily heroic efforts to enforce our rule of law, which is fundamental to the Republican Party and to our democracy. The FBI is a part of that.”
He also pointed out that the Bureau “is simply carrying out their responsibilities under the law, a lawful search warrant that a magistrate signed off on,” while noting that the agency “didn’t go in there with FBI raid jackets, they tried to constrain their behavior carrying out that warrant.”
Hutchinson concluded his response by calling for support of law enforcement, “Whether it’s the DEA, the FBI, or your local law enforcement.”
