Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has urged the FBI to refrain from using the term “domestic terrorism” when referring to the recent shooting of former President Donald Trump, suggesting that such a label could be seen as a “partisan” attack on Republicans. During a U.S. Senate hearing on the assassination attempt against Trump on Tuesday, Johnson questioned Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate on the matter.
“Deputy Director Abbate, you said this was an assassination attempt and domestic terrorism,” Johnson noted. “It’s obviously an assassination attempt. Why make the distinction? What is different about that?” Abbate responded, “We think it’s important to cover all the possibilities here in the reality of what we’re dealing with and what we’ve all seen, Senator. And we’ve learned lessons from the past, the baseball, the tragic shooting at the baseball field was referenced here.”
“We’ve learned the lesson from that, that was not opened properly, and we’ve made changes in the Bureau, and it’s reflected here in terms of how this investigation is being approached with a completely open mind and inclusive of all the possibilities, including domestic terrorism,” Abbate added. Johnson, however, was not satisfied with this explanation. “I fear that makes the investigation potentially partisan,” Johnson said.
The exchange highlights the ongoing debate over the terminology used to describe politically motivated violence. Johnson’s concern is that labeling the shooting as “domestic terrorism” could politicize the investigation and imply a bias against Republicans. Abbate’s response underscored the FBI’s commitment to considering all potential motives in their investigation to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident. As the investigation continues, the terminology and framing of such acts remain contentious, reflecting broader tensions in the political landscape.