Social media smears GOP Rep Rooney as Russian stooge after call to ‘purge’ FBI & DOJ
Representative Francis Rooney (R-Florida) sparked a backlash online after he accused elements of the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) of harboring bias against President Trump and being part of the ‘deep state.’
"I’m very concerned that the DOJ and the FBI, whether you want to call it 'deep state' or what, are kind of off the rails,” Rooney told MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson on Tuesday, referring to the anti-Trump text messages sent between former FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page who were working on the DOJ’s special investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia.
WATCH: GOP Rep. Francis Rooney calls for 'purge' of FBI, accuses some in the agency of being a part of the 'deep state' pic.twitter.com/kkJTBPFeui
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 26, 2017
“We've seen a lot of ends before means culture, both out of the Obama administration, from Hillary Clinton with her $84 million of potentially illegal campaign contributions, the Clinton Foundation and Uranium One," Rooney said. "People need a good clean government."
Jackson then asked Rooney if he was attempting to discredit the DOJ as a way to “discredit the Russia investigation.”
"No, I don't want to discredit them,” Rooney replied. “I would just like to see the directors of those agencies purge it and say, 'Look, we've got a lot of great agents and great lawyers here, those are the people that I want the American people to see and know that good work is being done, not these people who are kind of the deep state."
READ MORE: ‘Utter idiot’: FBI agents’ anti-Trump text messages released to Congress
Rooney’s comments sparked a backlash on social media from liberal pundits and the so-called “resistance.”
A “purge” of the FBI? Been reading biographies of Stalin lately, congressman? Stop. Now. https://t.co/CtnSfOw4KV
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) December 26, 2017
This rhetoric is indistinguishable from authoritarian states. This isn’t a drill. It’s an ongoing, well-strategized attempt to politicize rule of law to create impunity for the leader and his entourage—so Republicans can try to discredit Mueller’s eventual damning report. https://t.co/xCuovgLvm5
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) December 26, 2017
Former Clinton White House staffer Claude Taylor pledged to erect a “nasty ass billboard” in Rooney’s city of Naples, Florida, and asked for suggestions from his followers.
Let’s just say the Deep State might just decide to put up a nasty ass billboard for Rep Francis Rooney in Naples. Maybe along 75. I need a vicious message ten words or less. Suggestions?
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) December 27, 2017
Vladimir Putin supports Rep Francis Rooney for Congress.
— Saul Adamson Ω (@tinyfingresist) December 27, 2017
WE NEED FBI AND DOJ, NOT CRACKPOTS.
— BitchyBuddhist (@bitchy_buddhist) December 27, 2017
Some were rather vulgar.
Fuck Rooney mother fucker
— Joe (@joemamma_1) December 27, 2017
Others called for a purge of Rooney and accused him of being part of the alleged conspiracy between Trump and Russia.
.@FrancisRooney needs to resign immediately! He is a #PutinPuppet calling for a purge of FBI agents who have personal opinions! Rooney is as dirty as @realDonaldTrump & he and his ilk must go! He has no business pretending to be a Congressman! #ResistTrump
— Ellen Fedell (@LvsPnthers) December 27, 2017
This is chilling. There is something very bad going on in this country. Makes me wonder what someone has on these GOP Representatives to make them behave like this. Rep. Francis Rooney and others are undermining our democracy. Be afraid. Be very afraid. I know I am. https://t.co/F4RMHuNt9V
— Marilyn Kenyon, PsyD (@MarilynKenyon) December 26, 2017
Francis Rooney is a traitor. Complicit in Putin’s efforts to destroy America https://t.co/BinmF3GIyN
— Janet Patti Muller (@runPattirun) December 27, 2017
Another one Russians lobbied in 2016Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) on Tuesday called for a "purge" of the FBI, warning of "deep state" figures at work in the agency https://t.co/np5CIN6hYM
— IFFConsulting (@IFFConsulting) December 26, 2017
#Putin Approved Comrade Rep Francis Rooney #TrumpRussia#RedDawnHack@FBI Morning Joe pic.twitter.com/zscmE2VlEf
— Last Civilized Yank (@Harrowgateer) December 27, 2017
