Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Sunday that the Justice Department will have to be transparent in demonstrating the significance of the unprecedented search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago last week, but also criticized the response from other Republicans that he said inflamed anti-law enforcement sentiment. .
“I still think transparency was and is very important. I wasn’t one of those people who was just reacting, I was just standing up for Donald Trump,” Hogan told ABC’s “This Week” co-host Jonathan Karl of the operation from the FBI to the former president. residence in Florida. “But I understood that without anyone understanding what it was about, it was going to and could lead to even greater division and angry rhetoric on both sides.”
“And so I was glad they came out and unsealed the search documents,” Hogan said. “I think it was a step in the right direction. But I think we still have a lot of unanswered questions and will continue until people understand more.”
Hogan told Karl he was concerned after classified and other highly sensitive materials were recovered at Mar-a-Lago, according to a redacted copy of the order and related documents released Friday by the court.
Earlier sources told ABC News that the search was related to documents Trump took with him when he left Washington, including some records that the National Archives said were marked classified.
Through a spokesman, Trump claimed the files were declassified. He said the investigation is politically motivated.
“I think that’s what we need to get more information about: What are the documents really, and what are the implications from a national security standpoint?” Hogan said Sunday. “On the one hand, you can say, ‘well, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the federal judge felt they had to, then it must be pretty serious.'” On the other hand, with the absence of more transparency, people will continue to jump to conclusions.”
In this June 9, 2022, file photo, Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at a news conference at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
Brian Stukes/Getty Images, FILE
Hogan, a staunch intra-party critic of Trump, also warned against other Republicans escalating tensions over the ongoing investigation after some lawmakers like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called to “defund the FBI, dismantle the DOJ and rid agencies of political bias and persecution.”
Those comments continued after authorities said a gunman tried to break into an FBI office in Ohio following the search.
“It’s outrageous rhetoric,” Hogan said. “My father, my uncle, two of my cousins were FBI agents, and I work [agents] the state police work with them every day on an ongoing basis. These are dedicated law enforcement officers.”
Karl cited a photo of House Republicans who visited Trump after last week’s search, gathering around him.
“I’m not sure history will remember them all fondly,” Hogan said.
“Look, I believe no man is above the law, but everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “So we just have to see where this research leads.”
Hogan was coy about his own presidential ambitions, rumors of which have been fueled by his repeated calls for an anti-Trump future for the GOP and his recent trips to key swing states, including Thursday at the State Fair of Iowa, a must-see. for conservative presidential hopefuls.
“I’m helping people in this November election all over the country. I’ve been in 10 or 12 states in the last few weeks. And it’s really great to be out there talking to people,” Hogan said. “I will definitely be a voice and try to do what I can to get my party back, because I want to win elections instead of losing them.”
