A top House Democrat asserted on Sunday he was not privy to any evidence that the FBI has been “weaponized” against any political party, which would include the GOP.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, dismissed the idea that Republicans believe they have been unfairly targeted by the bureau during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Kasie Hunt.
.@RepRaskin when asked by @kasie if he's considering challenging Congressman Jerry Nadler as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee: "I'm not ruling anything out at this point."@CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/foV9NQTYjH
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) December 1, 2024
“I haven’t seen what the proof is that the FBI has been weaponized against a political party, or the Department of Justice. Of course, this Department of Justice has brought charges against a Democratic U.S. senator in New Jersey, a Democratic congressman in Texas,” Raskin said, alluding to former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX).
“And so some people just seem to think that it should go only in one direction, and, if it doesn’t, then somehow it’s politicized,” Raskin added. “And I think that’s what they mean when they talk about politicization and the deep state. I mean, the deep state, nobody’s ever defined it. Apparently, it just means anybody who doesn’t do the will of Donald Trump.”
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that he would be nominating Kash Patel to lead the FBI, saying that his pick would strive toward restoring “integrity” to the bureau. Republicans allies hailed the selection as one that will lead to rooting out partisanship.
“Listen, I don’t want a Republican Department of Justice. I don’t want a Democrat Department of Justice. I want a Department of Justice and an FBI that enforces the law regardless of party. And sadly, we haven’t seen that these last four years, ” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said during a “Face the Nation” interview on CBS.
Raskin, who led the January 6-focused impeachment inquiry against Trump and member of the now-defunct January 6 Committee, is reportedly being talked about as potentially taking over as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice — including the FBI.
When pressed by Hunt whether he wants to challenge Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) for the ranking member position in the judiciary panel, Raskin said, “I’m not ruling anything out at this point. And we’re engaged in conversations, all with the purpose of creating a strategic focus and capacity within the Democratic members of the House, so that we’re going to be a really effective and muscular opposition.”
