The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its agents have become targets
of threats. In the days since the agency carried out a court approved
search of former President Donald Trump's estate. Much of the heated
rhetoric has come from Trump himself and his allies and already one
man was killed by law enforcement after attempting to storm a field
office in Cincinnati, Ohio.
You're with me now to discuss all of this is retired special agent
Frank Montoya, who served 26 years in the FBI. Frank Montoya. Welcome
back to the news hour. You know, we've been planning to talk to you
for a couple of days based on threats that we saw out there, But
I just have to share that just in the last hour or so. On this Friday
afternoon, former President Trump
Has posted on social media, strong comments, and I'm just going to
quote from some of them. He refers to what he calls atrocities being
perpetrated by the FBI and the DOJ, he says the law enforcement of
our country has become that of a third World nation and I do not
believe that people will stand for it. Never in our country's history
has there been a time where law enforcement has been so viciously
and violently involved.
In the life and times of politics in our nation. They have no shame
they are destroying our country Have has there been anything like
this before in the history of the FBI.
Never. I cannot think of any instance in in my lifetime or even before
that in the history of the FBI or something like this, But, you know,
so egregiously foisted upon
How do you How do you account for what's happened here? Because there
was the search of the former President Trump's estate in Florida
Mar A Lago. There was a court approved warrant for that search, and
yet the president and his allies his supporters have ever since then
come down with a steady stream of attacks and threats on the FBI.
Well, I think what it reveals is that there's a lot of concern amongst
his inner circle and amongst, you know, with him in particular about
how close this investigation is getting to the truth. You know the
things that that he's been saying all along whether there was planted
evidence or that he had just unequivocal, unadulterated ability to
dig, pacify or to just outright attack the men and women of the FBI
who are just doing their jobs, who are responding to allegations
from
Outside which you know, reacting to it.
With a search warrant and then again doing your job collecting the
evidence and removing that documentation. It really suggests that
he's worried about what they're what they're finding out what they
will find what they are finding and what will happen next, as far
as potential prosecution, So yeah, he's he's running scared. That's
what it sounds like. Well, the language has become. I mean, just
I mean to to say over the top is an understatement. There. We've
seen quotes where they've written about killing the enemy, Steve
Bannon, who is a longtime adviser. The former president has talked
about the FBI is like the Gestapo and talking about we're at war.
Um, How do you mean you you've been in contact I know with you. You
have many friends in the bureau. How are they seeing all this? How
are they? How do they? How are they taking it in?
It takes them off. I mean, they're trying to deal with it. Take it
in stride, Um, addressing threats. Dealing with threats on a daily
basis is what they do. But what really concerns them is the input
the possible or potential impact that this can have on family members,
especially with their you know, kids getting ready to go back to
school and and with their colleagues, you know the intelligence analysts
and the support personnel who don't carry weapons for a living. It
really is.
Making for a difficult work environment. Now they're going to continue
to do what they do. They're going to press forward. They're going
to uphold their oath to support and defend the cost to shin to uphold
the rule of law. But at the same time, you know we are. You know,
I don't like to use this word. I don't think many people do. But
we are in unprecedented times because they truly are.
We're looking at, you know, words coming out, not just out of his
mouth. But other so called responsible leaders in this country who
are constantly bashing individuals, professionals who are doing their
jobs on a daily basis to the best of their abilities following the
rule of law, and you know, in addition to the threats that that those
words posted them, it also undermines the very efforts that they're
supposed that that that there, uh
Attempting to uphold it. Really? It's an attack on the Constitution
as much as it is on these Asians that are really working hard to
uphold it. And, and that's a question I wanted to get to, because
how is it possible for the agency to do its job when you have more
and more of the American people who the FBI DOJ Department of Justice
are serving?
Not having confidence in the not just not having confidence in them,
but thinking they are the enemies of the people.
Yeah, you said that's a really terrible side effect of all of this
nonsensical rhetoric that people are questioning is a very reasons
that the FBI exists. You know, it's sort
Hmm. It's not just about questioning their honesty and integrity.
But the reason for existing and there was a time when most Americans
you know many Americans. They look at the rule of law and looked
at the Constitution as something worth upholding. It's something
that could be upheld. And right now, with all of this negative languages
After all, this negative rhetoric is really causing even
Normal regular people. My neighbors to question whether or not the
FBI is is doing what it is supposed to do, as opposed to acting like
a rogue agency. And you know, the fact of the matter is nothing could
be further from the truth about that road nature about the adjectives
the words and descriptions that the former president is using to
describe really good people who are just like your neighbors, your
the folks that live in your community whose whose Children go to
your schools where they're just doing their jobs reacting to the
circumstances.
Of our current environment and doing it in the best way possible
at the same time, taking care of themselves and, more importantly,
their friends and families.
Alright, Well, we are going to leave it there. We certainly are continuing
to watch this, uh as it develops, um and again with these new comments
today from the former president, Frank Montoya, who served in the
FBI for 26 years. Thank you very much.