slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Opinion by Leonard Pitts Jr.

"When you're attacking FBI agents because you're under criminal investigation, you're losing."

That 2016 tweet from Trump campaign adviser and future White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, then referring to Hillary Clinton and Democrats, took on a special irony on Monday, as former President Donald Trump and his allies spent much of the day and night railing against the FBI for searching Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and occasional home that morning.

The FBI search, executing a search warrant, was conducted as part of an investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents while in the White House. He's accused of removing classified documents illegally and even ripping some up and throwing them in White House toilets -- a fitting metaphor for a p**********l legacy if I've ever heard one.

Most legal analysts agree this is really, really not good news for Trump. As former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal said, "If I were Donald Trump's lawyer right now, and thank God that I'm not, I would be advising my client to be telling my family that I am expecting jail time...."

Additionally, if Trump's found guilty of mishandling classified documents, he could be prohibited from holding public office again, say, in 2024.

So, it's no wonder Trump responded with a typically nuclear statement about his circumstances, calling the search "prosecutorial misconduct," "the weaponization of the Justice System," and an "attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024."

But make no mistake about it -- for all their spittle-soaked bluster, Trump and friends couldn't be happier this is happening now.

How do we know? Because rather than downplay or ignore the story, Trump and MAGA world are screaming about it.

Trump himself was one of the first to confirm the story, releasing that statement of martyrdom before even most media outlets caught wind of it.

His loyalists were quick to turn the story of a president who may have committed crimes while in office into one about the "deep state" he so often insisted was out to get him -- presumably for moments like this one.

"The FBI just proved that Donald Trump was right," tweeted Newsmax host Benny Johnson. "He's always been right. No one will ever forget this."

If anything, it proves Trump critics were right that he's a corrupt megalomaniac who flouted rules and possibly laws to cling to power, avoid oversight and profit off of the presidency.

But hey, getting to say this episode vindicates Trump is politically profitable.

Trump and his friends, GOP candidates like J.D. Vance and the RNC, are fundraising off the raid.

And over at Fox News, where news of some legislative wins for President Biden and Democrats was throwing the vibe off, hosts and guests didn't just make a meal of this, they made an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Trump's daughter-in-law Lara ominously warned supporters that they could be next, or something. "If this is what they're able to do to the former president of the United States, think about what they could do to you, to anybody in America."

Steve Bannon called the FBI "the Gestapo" -- because nothing means anything anymore.

Laura Ingraham promised even more retribution against, well, 'everyone' I guess: "...when we get power back, it's time to hold everyone accountable: the military leadership, the civilian leadership, the civil service, those in Congress who've abused their power."

And Mark Levin was having a totally normal one, as he usually is: "This is the worst attack on this republic in modern history. Period!"

Dan Bongino was equally restrained. "This is a freaking disgrace. A disgrace," he said. We don't live in Cuba. We don't live under Kim Jong-un. There has to be not only hearings, but a total, total house cleaning at the top of the DOJ and FBI."

Over in Congress, Republicans are making the most of this, too. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, eager to get back into MAGA-land's good graces, threatened the attorney general, and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene went on an unhinged Twitter tirade, mumbling something about c*******m.

It's wild to watch a group of people compare the U.S. to N**is, C*******ts, and dictators because -- get this -- their favorite former president, who refuses to believe the results of a democratic e******n, may not in fact get to act more like...a dictator.

If only these folks were as mad about the i**********nist siege on the U.S. Capitol as they're pretending to be about the search of Trump's Palm Beach golf club. But they aren't really mad about either -- because if Trump was successful at anything, it was convincing his fans that nothing matters more than he does.

Not even America itself.

Gatsby

Trump was right, and the very existence of "Crossfire Hurricane" is irrefutable PROOF!

Liberty Tree

All I had to see was the author of the article to know it was another ELWNJ h**e Trump hit piece. NWR

moldyoldy

Yet, no one on the right seems concerned about the classified documents and what he planned to do with them. We’re they a bargaining chip to get asylum in some other country? Maybe.

bylm1-Bernie

You're not dreaming any longer, Moldy. You're in a nightmare!

Milosia2 Loc: Cleveland Ohio

Prejudice is of course your forte’ !

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Top of the day to you, L-T. Once again, you come through.

I guess you missed all the right-wing talking head comments that Pitts included in his piece.

bylm1-Bernie

Yes, I noticed that, Slatts. Strange that people would object to having their homes broken into during the night. Would you prefer that these folks would support this kind of tyranny. Even scores of Democrats objected to this kind of nonsense. On the other hand, could you imagine what kind of storm the left would raise if anyone so much as ruffles H****r's feathers about his influence peddling. It will happen but as is their practice, the Democrat run DOJ will not eat their own. Interesting how libs react to some things.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

I never could understand people being attracted to trump-- It is very obvious that he is a self centered wicked- anti American psycho.-- I don't understand other politicians fearing him and going along with his twisted views .Stupidity and cowardice are going to destroy our country---

microphor Loc: Home is TN

To Pitts "an appropriate name by the way"
Wow if only you were as offended by the invasion at our southern birders or the no bail violent criminals openingly released back into our society, I just might think what you had to say might have relevance.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Apparently, you haven't been closely following the story. Mar-A-Largo was not "broken into during the night". Well before the search, the powers-that-be gave ample notice/warnings/signals that they were going to search Mar-A-Lago again. Hell, at least one of Trump's attorneys was on site and accompanied them at the door and during the search. Considering the former president's actions since leaving office, it was done in a manner most courteous and professional.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/02/09/mar-a-lago-was-not-raided-trump-hands-over-15-boxes-of-p**********l-records-to-national-archives-1199075/

microphor Loc: Home is TN

Ahhahaha, you mean like Pitts

microphor Loc: Home is TN

I guess we prefer that to liars, c***ts, thief and r****t!

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

trump is all of the things you just wrote.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Tom, that qualifies as a 'got'cha'