ATLANTA (AP), — After the ex-president blasted the FBI and accused of trying to force Georgia officials to reverse Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, the prosecutor investigating Donald Trump is asking for security assistance from the FBI.
Fani Willis, Fulton County District Attorney, wrote Sunday a letter to Atlanta’s FBI asking for a risk assessment at the county courthouse where her office is situated and a government center. She also requested protective resources from the FBI, including intelligence and federal agents.
Trump vented his anger at the ongoing investigations in Washington, Georgia, and New York and asked his supporters to organize mass protests against their mistreatment. Willis quoted remarks Trump made at the rally in her letter.
Trump stated, “If these radical, vicious, and racist prosecutors do any wrong or illegal, then I hope we’re going to have in the country the largest protest we’ve ever had in Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta, and elsewhere, because our nation and our elections are corrupt.”
These comments are particularly noteworthy given Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of Capitol Building. Trump suggested that he could pardon those who were charged in the riot if Trump runs for president again and is elected to reelection.
Willis opened an investigation last year into Trump’s attempts to improperly affect the 2020 general election. Willis requested that the FBI take the necessary steps to assist her investigation. A special grand jury will be set up May 2, and Willis requested that the FBI do the same.
Willis stated that “my staff and I will never be intimidated or influenced by anyone” as the investigation progresses.
She stated that her office had already taken security steps “considering the communication we have received form persons unhappy with the commitment to fulfill their duties.” She also said that she is working with county officials to determine if additional security measures are necessary as the investigation continues.
She said that security concerns had “escalated” as Trump focused his attention on the prosecutors investigating his actions. Willis also wrote that Trump’s suggestion last year that he could pardon those who stormed Congress last year to stop Biden’s win certification was alarming.
Willis wrote that he was writing to the FBI to say, “We must cooperate to keep the public safe”
Jenna Sellitto was a spokesperson for FBI Atlanta. She confirmed receipt of the letter, but declined further comment.
Trump is waging war on the many investigations that have been conducted against him. He has made particular attacks on Letitia James, New York Attorney General, who claimed her office recently found evidence that Trump’s firm used “fraudulent and misleading” valuations to obtain loans and tax benefits. This includes playing a video from a previous rally in which she is seen pledging to defeat Trump during her campaign.
Trump didn’t mention Willis, James or any other person by name on Saturday.
Willis declined to discuss the details of her investigation. However, in a recent interview with The Associated Press she confirmed that it included a Jan. 2nd, 2021 phone call between Trump, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and a November 2020 telephone call between U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Raffensperger and Raffensperger. She also mentioned comments made during the December 2020 Georgia legislative committee hearings about the election.
Trump stated in a statement that his call to Raffensperger had been “perfect” and that he didn’t say anything wrong. Graham also denied any wrongdoing.