During an appearance on CNN’s “Reliable Sources,” host Brian Stelter asked Dean for his thoughts on the conservative media’s response to the FBI investigation into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in which many right-wing voices have lobbed attacks against law enforcement and claimed the investigation is politically motivated. Some cable news anchors, such as Fox News’ Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity, went so far as to say that “we’ve been declared war and now it’s game on” and that the investigation was a “clear and egregious abuse of power.” When asked to respond to a series of news clippings last week, Dean said, “Well, I think they don’t seem to want to appreciate that the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, do search warrants. every day, against every kind of man.” “And there’s a reason Trump caused this. He’s the one who didn’t cooperate. He is the one who forced [Attorney General] Merrick Garland’s hand. We don’t know what he has or what he had.” “Garland is not a risk-taker, not a guy who dares to go where no one else has gone before. He’s someone who does it by the book, so I think those people are going to have egg all over their faces when this is over,” Dean added. “Although they may never admit it, there, they certainly should.” Dean is known for his role in the initial cover-up of the Watergate scandal, but later cooperated with federal prosecutors and testified against Nixon during hearings on the congressional investigation into the scandal. The FBI and Justice Department have faced a series of attacks since a search warrant was executed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence nearly a week ago. In rare public statements, Garland said last week that the department would seek to unseal the warrant and release documents obtained, some of which were classified classified and top secret. Alex Wagner lands ‘dream job’ taking over for Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Photos of the Week: Schumer, sunflowers and the super moon Republicans have rallied around Trump since the raid, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (D-Ga.) going so far as to introduce articles of impeachment against Garland. Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray in recent days have pushed back against criticism of their departments and defended the work of federal law enforcement agents. “Let me address the recent baseless attacks on the professionalism of FBI and DOJ agents and prosecutors. I will not remain silent when their integrity is unfairly attacked,” he said. “The men and women of the FBI and the Department of Justice are dedicated, patriotic public servants.”
