Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday lashed out at attacks on the FBI, Justice Department and the press, comparing them to the actions of "bullies" and "autocrats."
In a speech Wednesday at an event hosted by the Ohio Associated Press, Kasich lamented "the first thing that happens when people want to be bullies and they're autocrats . . . is that they go to restrict the press," The Columbus Dispatch reported.
"So, do all the complaining you want, but thank God we have the press. To me, it is just one of those essential things that we have in our country that is so important for the fabric of who we are as Americans."
He then assailed the GOP attacks aimed at the FBI and Department of Justice.
"[T]hese attacks on these institutions like we're seeing now with the FBI and the Justice Department — I mean these are things that they're hallmarks of our country," he said, the news outlet reported.
"And as we erode them or create enormous doubts in the minds of Americans that there's anything we can trust — I guess except for what they say about the Kardashians — it gets us in trouble."
Rumored to be a possible primary challenger to President Donald Trump, Kasich said he was not sure about his future plans.