In a heated interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) repeatedly evaded questions from Dana Bash regarding former President Donald Trump’s claim that he “nearly escaped death” during the 2023 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.
Bash confronted Scott with Trump’s statements, noting, “Federal prosecutors are now asking for a gag order in that classified documents case after the former president said that FBI agents who searched Mar-A-Lago were, ‘locked and loaded, ready to take me out,’ and that he ‘nearly escaped death.’ But Senator, that same language was also in the order for President Biden’s home. So do you agree with the attorney general that this is not only false, what the former president said, but extremely dangerous?”
Scott responded by deflecting to a broader critique of the justice system, saying, “I saw the video of the SWAT team from the FBI raiding Mar-A-Lago. I have not seen the same video of them raiding Joe Biden’s garage, so I’d love to have that comparison. But more importantly, once again, we find ourselves reinforcing this two-tiered justice system — where we see a different standard for Republicans and specifically a different standard for Donald Trump.”
Bash pressed further, pointing out that both a sitting Democratic U.S. Senator (Bob Menendez) and a House Member (Henry Cuellar) are currently under federal indictment, challenging the notion that only Republicans face legal scrutiny.
“What I really am asking you about is the language being used — which is misleading,” Bash said. “People like Steve Bannon called this an ‘assassination attempt.’ Doesn’t that kind of language concern you?”
Scott continued to dodge, shifting the focus back to perceived disparities in legal treatment: “Watching the treatment of Joe Biden by the justice system, when they have found him unable to stand before a jury of his peers because he’s too old, frankly, and his memory is shot, that is not the kind of simple, fair justice system that Americans expect. So it is very difficult to see this justice system currently playing out where it is fair to both Donald Trump and Republicans, as we’ve seen the kid gloves and the insulation around Joe Biden and his family. We all want fairness without any question, especially when Lady Justice should wear a blindfold. But we don’t see that playing out, Dana.”
