Trump accuses DOJ, FBI of ‘mishandling and downplaying’ assassination attempt

Former President Trump on Monday accused the Justice Department and FBI of “downplaying” the second apparent assassination attempt against him this year, suggesting the case should be left to Florida authorities to handle.

Trump issued a lengthy statement escalating his attacks on the Justice Department and FBI, accusing the agencies of going after him for political reasons and having a conflict of interest.

“The Kamala Harris/Joe Biden Department of Justice and FBI are mishandling and downplaying the second assassination attempt on my life since July,” Trump said. “The charges brought against the maniac assassin are a slap on the wrist. It’s no wonder, since the DOJ and FBI have been coming after me nonstop with Weaponized Lawfare since I announced my first Historic Campaign for the Presidency.”

He cited the numerous legal cases against him, including the case over his handling of classified documents, the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and charges over his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election.

Trump also cited cases unrelated to the Justice Department or FBI, such as his impeachments while in office and fraud charges against him in New York.

He also pointed to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s comments in late July after the first attempt on Trump’s life in which Wray left open the possibility Trump was struck by something other than a bullet. The bureau later issued a statement clarifying Trump was hit by a bullet, either fragmented or whole.

“It’s very difficult to trust the Biden/Harris DOJ/FBI to investigate the assassination attempts, due to Election Interference and the FAKE CASES brought against me, including their control over local D.A.s and A.G.s,” Trump said.

“If the DOJ and FBI cannot do their job honestly and without bias, and hold the aspiring assassin responsible to the full extent of the Law, Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida have already agreed to take the lead on the investigation and prosecution,” Trump said. “Florida charges would be much more serious than the ones the FBI has announced… LET FLORIDA HANDLE THE CASE!”

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ryan Routh, 58, was charged earlier this month with two gun crimes after allegedly pushing the muzzle of a rifle through the fence along the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida while he was there, prompting a Secret Service agent to fire at him.

Prosecutors alleged in court documents filed Monday that Routh wrote a letter detailing his plans months prior.

Routh faces charges of possessing a gun while a felon and having an illegally obliterated serial number on his firearm. Prosecutors are expected to seek an indictment from a grand jury in the coming days that could include additional charges.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced last week that the state would open a criminal investigation into the latest attempt on Trump’s life. The probe will run concurrent to the federal investigation into the incident. 

President Biden and his aides have said multiple times he has not had contact with the Justice Department about investigations into Trump as they seek to maintain the agency’s independence from political influence.

But Trump has repeatedly claimed the cases against him are politically motivated, decrying the charges against him in various jurisdictions as “lawfare” intended to hurt his chances of winning November’s election.