New details have emerged regarding the FBI’s involvement in the investigation of the July 13 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) released a preliminary report alleging that the FBI obstructed further investigation by removing crucial evidence and releasing the shooter’s body for cremation just 10 days after the attack.
Higgins’s report outlines how the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was positioned to evade counter-sniper teams before firing eight shots toward Trump. Despite this, Crooks was quickly neutralized by a combination of local SWAT forces and Secret Service snipers. However, the investigation took a controversial turn when the FBI took control of the crime scene.
The report claims that the FBI scrubbed the area of biological evidence before Higgins and his team could inspect it. “Cops don’t do that, ever,” Higgins noted, expressing frustration over the FBI’s actions. When he attempted to examine Crooks’s body on August 5, Higgins discovered that the FBI had already authorized its cremation, leaving no opportunity for an independent review. Local law enforcement and the coroner’s office were reportedly kept in the dark about the decision.
The FBI has defended its actions, stating that all procedures were followed in line with protocol. However, the incident has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the agency, with many questioning why these decisions were made so hastily.
The Secret Service is also under scrutiny for apparent communication lapses during the rally, as radios intended for the counter-sniper teams were left uncollected. The agency has initiated a review and promised to address any violations of protocol.
As Rep. Higgins prepares a more comprehensive report, the investigation continues to draw national attention, with many calling for a thorough examination of the FBI’s role and whether justice was truly served.
