Criticizing federal raid of Rudy Giuliani's home, a Fox guest lies about the Trump administration previously blocking it

Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum also casts suspicion on “heavy-handed arrests and investigations” of people associated with Donald Trump

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

From the April 28, 2021, edition of Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum

MARTHA MACCALLUM (ANCHOR): We have seen some heavy-handed arrests and investigations of a number of people who had been in the Trump circle, Bret. Is there — you know, can you frame this for me in terms of what you think is behind this move today? 

BRETT TOLMAN (FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY): Well, you'd be hard-pressed to refute an argument that this is retaliatory. I agree with Andy [McCarthy]. You don't see these kind of tactics.

But keep in mind, months ago Rudy Giuliani — and we don't know what he's being accused of, we don't know the depth of the investigation or the nature of it — but months ago indicated he was happy to speak with anyone, answer questions, and turn over evidence if they requested it. So why didn’t they do that? Why did they look past those offers, and now they come forward with the search warrant?

The other thing, Martha, keep in mind, as The New York Times reported, they indicated that a source said that DOJ officials in the previous administration were running interference. If that’s accurate — so bureaucrats at the time in DOJ and FBI were working against the investigation, but now those same bureaucrats and FBI agents are — we’re supposed to trust that their judgment is sound? The thing does not — does not compute and add up right now, especially given all the politics that have surrounded these issues.

MACCALLUM: Yeah, the attorney, Robert Costello, said, “If he was trying to hide anything, he would’ve destroyed all that stuff back in November or December. Of course, we didn’t do that, because he has nothing to hide.” He calls it “legal thuggery” and “unnecessary.”

Tolman distorted what The New York Times had in fact reported — which involved not a change of mind by “those same bureaucrats,” but the absence now of earlier Justice Department political appointees under Giuliani’s then-client, former President Donald Trump, and the political favoritism they had allegedly shown toward him.

The United States attorney’s office in Manhattan and the F.B.I. had sought for months to secure search warrants for Mr. Giuliani’s phones and electronic devices.

Under Mr. Trump, senior political appointees in the Justice Department repeatedly sought to block such a warrant, The New York Times reported, slowing the investigation as it was gaining momentum last year. After Merrick B. Garland was confirmed as Mr. Biden’s attorney general, the Justice Department lifted its objection to the search.