Opinion | The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect Sarah Palin's view.
Steve Bannon, former White House chief advisor, called for the dismantling of the FBI during a speech at the Turning Point USA conference, labeling it the “American Gestapo.”
Bannon’s bold statements included plans to purge the Department of Justice and remove the FBI building, comparing it to the destruction of Carthage by the Romans.
“We are not prepared to be governed by criminals. And we are going to purge DOJ. We’re going to take apart the FBI. The FBI, the American Gestapo,” Bannon said. “That building on Pennsylvania Avenue, we don’t need $400 million for a new headquarters. You’re not going to need a headquarters. You’re not going to be in the FBI. We’re going to get everybody out of that building. We’re going to take it down ugly slab by ugly slab. It’s the ugliest building on Pennsylvania Avenue. And we’re going to do what the Romans did to Carthage. We’re going to salt the earth around it so there’ll never be another building there again.”
“Yeah, they did great work on terrorism. 9-11, great work. You haven’t gotten anything right in the CIA, you haven’t gotten anything right in 50 years because you’re spending all your time going after Catholics praying rosaries at abortion centers. You’re going after moms and dads going to school boards. You’re an American Gestapo and it’s going to end on our watch.”
He dismissed the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts and predicted former President Trump’s potential prison sentence just before the Republican National Convention, expressing defiance against perceived injustices.
Bannon emphasized a stance of investigation, prosecution, and incarceration for those he believes have wronged Trump, highlighting a strong anti-government sentiment.
“President Trump, when he takes this stand tonight, is now eligible for 700 years in prison. They want him to serve all of it,” Bannon said. “They bankrupted him, they smeared his name, and on July 11th they’re going to start by giving him a several year prison sentence and have Judge Merchan be the custodian of where he can go, and how he can campaign in direct election interference.”
“Let me tell the people that have done that to President Trump, whether you’re in the federal government or whether you’re down in the state of Georgia or you’re in Arizona or you’re in Michigan, we are going to be investigated, prosecuted, and incarcerated. Okay? We are not going to stop. This has nothing to do with retribution. It has nothing to do with justice.”
