Republicans threatening rule of law with FBI attacks, says Biden

‘You can be on the side of the mob or the police. You can’t be pro-law enforcement and pro-insurrection’

JOE BIDEN cast Republicans as a threat to the rule of law in a speech calling out the “sickening” attacks on the FBI following its raid of Mar-a-lago.

The US president inverted Republican attack lines to accuse the GOP of being soft on crime as he highlighted his efforts to reduce gun violence in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Mr Biden said: “To this day, Maga [Make America Great Again] Republicans in Congress defend the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan 6”.

He added: “You can be on the side of the mob, or the police. You can’t be prolaw enforcement and pro-insurrection.”

The trip to Wilkes-barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, is part of his attempt to address a key concern for voters in a state that will be critical to Democrats’ hopes to hold the Senate.

Polls show Republicans outscoring Democrats on tackling crime, and Republicans in Congress have painted themselves as the party of law enforcement, tying Democrats to movements to defund the police.

But this has been complicated by the FBI search of Mr Trump’s Florida home over his handling of classified documents, after some Trump acolytes called for the FBI to be defunded. While castigating such Republicans, Mr Biden distanced himself from the progressive wing of his party, saying: “I’m opposed to defunding the police, I’m also opposed to defunding the FBI.”

It is the first time that Mr Biden has waded into the row over the FBI’S investigation of Mr Trump.

In his speech, Mr Biden touted his party’s biggest achievements on tackling crime, including passing the most significant gun safety law in 30 years.

“We beat the NRA,” he said, referencing the powerful lobbying group the National Rifle Association.

“But we are not stopping here” he added, saying he was “determined to ban assault weapons”, a move which a majority of Americans support.