Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe blamed former President Donald Trump for the death of a suspect who was shot by the FBI, the Daily Caller reported. Craig Deleeuw Robertson, 74, was shot in an early morning raid on his home Wednesday.
Details are still pouring in about the circumstances that led to law enforcement's actions against Robertson. That didn't stop McCabe, who was previously fired from Trump's FBI before the decision was later reversed, from blaming Trump.
"I’m confident that the multiple cases, investigations, what will ultimately be trials of Donald Trump, will continue to really fire up the most extreme portion of his supporters," McCabe claimed on "CNN News Central" Thursday. "You know, he also made threats about Letitia James, made threats about Gavin Newsom, who is a very kind of outspoken Trump critic," he told host Kate Bolduan.
Robertson reportedly made threats against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is prosecuting Trump for alleged hush money payments to a porn star. The Utah man also targeted President Joe Biden and other government officials who are Trump's adversaries.
"And let’s be clear, President Trump’s own rhetoric targeting these people, showing his supporters who he dislikes, airing out his own grievances, that has an encouraging impact on people who are prone to violence," McCabe claimed. "It’s reckless to engage in that sort of speech, but that’s what former President Trump does."
Trump has a right to be outraged. He's currently facing concurrent prosecutions from partisan officials like special counsel Jack Smith, who indicted the former president on four counts because he was outspoken about irregularities in the 2020 election.
This is in addition to a separate 37-count indictment Smith secured over the alleged mishandling of classified documents. It's no wonder that Trump is angry and feels that he is being unfairly targeted -- because that's exactly what's happening.
Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the fed's investigation and shooting of Robertson are concerning. The FBI raided his house after the woodworker posted a threat to Biden online, Fox News reported.
There was a standoff between authorities and Robertson that ended in the man's death around 6:14 a.m. It apparently was initiated after a particular threat posted on Facebook ahead of Biden's visit to the state.
"I hear Biden is coming to Utah," Robertson posted. "Digging out my old ghille suit and cleaning the dust off the m24 sniper rifle. welcom, buffoon-in-chief!"
Authorities claimed in a court document that Robertson had access to both the camouflage gear and the weapon. However, those who knew him reported that Robertson was a church-going member of the community who wouldn't carry out such a threat.
Robertson's criminal history included only a minor disorderly conduct charge in 1998, and he was not known to be violent. In fact, close friend Travis Clark said Robertson was the lone caretaker for his adult son, who is disabled and blind, and lived with his father.
"It's pretty shocking stuff, but it's not the Craig Robertson I knew," Clark told the media. "And it just feels to me like he was just leaning into an online persona and just shooting his mouth off."
It's unclear how serious Robertson was in his words against Biden and other officials. It will take time to sort out the facts, but McCabe is despicable to blame Trump for any of it in the meantime.
