'Be careful': MAGA Republicans warned their holy war against DOJ could tear party apart

The GOP’s battle against the “weaponized” FBI and Department of Justice is threatening to tear the party apart, Politico reported Wednesday.

Moves by the agencies considered by right flank Republicans to be anti-Donald Trump and pro-Joe Biden – including the investigations and indictment of Trump and Hunter Biden’s plea deal for tax evasion – have driven a desire to limit their power.

But such a focus on federal law enforcement is “exposing tension with centrist and more establishment Republicans who embrace the party’s pro-law enforcement roots — the prevailing sentiment inside the GOP before Trump came along,” Politico reported.

In recent meetings, several traditional Republicans have voiced concern about talks to cut the budgets of the agencies and to remove key leadership. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) told Politico he told his colleagues to “be careful,” adding: “I’m not in favor of cutting DOJ.”

A series of upcoming hearings this month are expected to bring the tension to a head. FBI Director Christopher Wray is expected to appear before the Judiciary Committee while Attorney General Merrick Garland will testify in September. The party’s right wing has debated impeaching Garland and removing Wray.

It would be the first impeachment of a Cabinet official since 1876.

Other decisions expected to put party members at loggerheads include proposed cuts to their funding, and reauthorizing a surveillance program used by the FBI that let’s the agency listen to targets overseas without warrants.

Factions of the GOP want it cut because of their newfound distrust in surveillance, while for other members it’s extremely popular.

“Both of those legislative pushes have significant consequences for FBI and DOJ. They also threaten to splinter the GOP,” Politico reported.