Former U.S. Attorney says the DOJ is not providing enough transparency in regards to the Trump raid
Former U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr said the DOJ has not been transparent enough regarding its investigation of former President Donald Trump. Fishwick was appointed by former President Obama.
A former U.S. attorney derided the Department of Justice for not providing enough transparency on the controversial raid of former President Trump's home.
John P. Fishwick Jr, former U.S. Attorney for the Western district of Virginia, appeared on "CNN Newsroom With Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto" and said the DOJ has not been transparent enough with the American people regarding its investigation into Trump.
"Now seeing what we see and also seeing what's redacted, is there enough transparency from DOJ here?" CNN host Poppy Harlow asked.
"I don't think there is," Fishwick responded.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 05: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland arrives to speak at the Department of Justice on January 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. Garland addressed the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Carolyn Kaster-Pool/Getty Images)
He continued, "I think ultimately Merrick Garland's job here is to get buy in from the American public that the investigation is being conducted fairly and transparently and ultimately the American people are the jury on this case. They need to know what the evidence is against a former President."
Fishwick, who was appointed by former President Obama, said a former president needs to be treated differently and should be given the same treatment as President Biden would.
"Yes, a former President of the United States is different. We have to treat that person differently, and we need to make sure that Donald Trump is treated the same as Joe Biden would be treated if he left office," he said.
Former President Trump in New York City. (Felipe Ramales / Fox News Digital)
Fishwick argued, "You can't just suddenly indict a former President without telling the public why."
Republicans rallied behind Trump after the FBI took the unprecedented step to raid his Mar-a-Lago home earlier this month. Even some Democrats, such as former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang raised concerns about the raid.
President Donald J. Trump walks up the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. Trump headed to Florida where he spent a week at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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"DOJ must immediately explain the reason for its raid & it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation & legitimacy of January 6 investigations," Cuomo tweeted.
Yang said the raid will "strengthen" the case that the government is targeting Trump.
"I’m no Trump fan. I want him as far away from the White House as possible. But a fundamental part of his appeal has been that it’s him against a corrupt government establishment. This raid strengthens that case for millions of Americans who will see this as unjust persecution," he tweeted.
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