Nearly half of all U.S. voters have a negative impression of the FBI and believe the organization’s leaders are running it as President Joe Biden’s “personal Gestapo,” a new Rasmussen survey reveals.
The survey finds that 46% of U.S. likely voters view the FBI favorably, a marked decline from the 60% who had a positive opinion in May of 2020. According to the latest survey, 47% view the FBI unfavorably, including 26% who have a “very unfavorable” impression. The remaining 7% are “not sure.”
Voters were also asked if they agree with a comment, quoted without attribution, made by Roger Stone, an adviser to former President Donald Trump:
“Do you agree or disagree with this statement: There is ‘a group of politicized thugs at the top of the FBI who are using the FBI … as Joe Biden‘s personal Gestapo’?”
Forty-six percent (46%) of voters agree with Stone’s assessment, including 29% who “strongly agree.” In contrast, 38% disagree with Stone’s claim, including 25% who strongly disagree. Another 15% are “not sure.”
The strongest agreement was voiced by government employees, with a majority (52%) saying they either “strongly agree” (34%) or “somewhat agree” (18%) that the FBI is acting as Biden’s “Gestapo.”
What’s more, 61% of government employees say the FBI director “is influenced by the president in his decision-making.” Just 20% say he is “truly independent of the administration, with the same percentage saying they aren’t sure what to think.
Likewise, 51% of entrepreneurs agree with Stone’s characterization of today’s FBI, compared to 45% of private-sector employees, 48% of retired voters, 41% of other respondents.
The national survey of 1,000 U.S. likely voters was conducted December 29-30, 2021 by Rasmussen Reports.
