(Fwrd Axis) — After former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida was raided by the FBI, some of Trump’s most loyal supporters lashed out at the move, saying they are “locked and loaded,” agitated for civil war.
Several users on pro-Trump internet forums posted about a “civil war”, including Tyler Welsh Slaeker, a man awaiting sentencing for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 as part of the riot being investigated by the January 6 committee.
Slaeker’s username is “bananaguard62″ and Monday saw that username posted a chilling reply to the “lock and load” post.
“Are we not in a cold civil war at this point?” the user said.
Another pro-Trump forum called TheDonald, a Reddit-like website, had users asking “When does the shooting start?” and some called on the former president to rally his supporters.
The news comes after a few dozen Trump supporters gathered outside Mar-a-Lago after news of the FBI’s raid broke. WTVJ Miami reporter Christian Benavides said supporters began arriving at the Palm Beach resort just before midnight. One truck had a “Trump-Pence” flag but with Pence’s name crossed out and other’s said that “Civil War is imminent.”
Slaeker pleaded guilty to a count of entering and remaining in a restricted building. He faces a maximum penalty of one year of in prison but according to court documents, Slaeker’s estimated sentencing guidelines were zero to six months.
After the news broke, Republicans were quick to rally behind Trump, agreeing with his statement that the unprecedented search of a former president’s home was politically motivated and some lawmakers vowed to take revenge if Republicans take control in the midterms.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said in a statement that the Justice Department had reached “an intolerable state of weaponized politicization” and Republicans would conduct an investigation into the department after the midterm elections if the GOP take back the House.
“Attorney General Garland, preserve your documents and clear your calendar,” McCarthy said in a statement.
