Scott Refuses to Address Trump’s FBI Raid Remarks, Focuses on Justice System Critique
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) skirted a question Sunday about former President Trump’s bogus assertions that he was in grave danger when the FBI searched his Florida residence last year, as the South Carolina Republican seeks to join the former president’s November election ticket.
Trump said last week that the FBI was “locked & loaded and ready to take me out” after officials searched his Mar-a-Lago resort for missing secret materials, prompting a rebuke from the Department of Justice and outrage from Democrats.
When CNN’s Dana Bash approached Scott about the wording of “State of the Union,” he declined to comment. Bash mentioned that President Biden faced a similar quest for classified documents.
“I saw a video of the FBI SWAT team raiding Mar-a-Lago.” “I haven’t seen the same video of them raiding Joe Biden’s garage, so I’d like to see that comparison,” Scott remarked. “But more importantly, once again, we find ourselves reinforcing this two-tiered justice system — where we see a different standard for Republicans and specifically a different standard for Donald Trump.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland termed Trump’s remarks last week “extremely dangerous,” claiming that he was discussing typical FBI policy for searches.
Bash pressed Scott for an explanation, citing comments from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who called the search an “assassination attempt.” Scott ducked again.
“Watching the treatment of Joe Biden by the justice system, when they have found him unable to stand before a jury of his peers because he’s too old, frankly, and his memory is shot, that is not the kind of simple, fair justice system that Americans expect,” Scott stated.
“So it is very difficult to see this justice system currently playing out where it is [unfair] to both Donald Trump and Republicans, as we’ve seen the kid gloves and the insulation around Joe Biden and his family,” he said. “We all desire fairness without question, especially when Lady Justice must wear a blindfold. But we don’t see that happening, Dana.
While Republicans, led by Trump, frequently argue that the Department of Justice punishes Democrats differently, two Democratic congressmen — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) — are facing federal charges.
Scott is considered a finalist for Trump’s vice presidential nomination. Scott, Trump’s former primary adversary, has become one of his most vocal supporters in the media, appearing on Sunday shows almost weekly to defend the former president.