Congressman criticizes FBI in investigation into Trump shooting

Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana criticized the FBI's “scorched earth” investigation into Trump's shooting for releasing the shooter's body before he could examine it.
The FBI called the obstruction of justice allegations “inaccurate and unfounded” and said the investigation was “thorough.”

WASHINGTON – A House lawmaker investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump criticized the FBI for its “scorched earth” investigation and questioned why the gunman's body was released for cremation 10 days after the shooting.

The FBI denied interfering with congressional efforts to investigate the shooting and said its thorough investigation followed normal procedures.

The dispute arose in the wake of several investigations into Trump's shooting on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In addition to the House of Representatives and the FBI, the Secret Service is currently reviewing its planning and response to the incident, as is the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.

Here’s what we know about the latest developments:

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) speaks to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas as he testifies in Washington on the department's fiscal year 2025 budget.

Higgins criticizes FBI for releasing shooter's body

In his preliminary report, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana criticized several FBI actions in the investigation, including sending rescue crews the night of the shooting, opening the crime scene three days later and removing biological evidence of the shooting.

Higgins visited Butler from Aug. 4 to 6, but said the FBI released Crooks' body to his family for cremation on July 23, which the congressman called “an obstruction of all subsequent investigative efforts.” Higgins wanted to examine the body himself to confirm the autopsy results.

“This scorched earth pattern in the FBI investigation is quite disturbing,” Higgins said.

The FBI called the obstruction of justice charge “inaccurate and without merit.” The FBI arranged for the area where Crooks died to be cleaned up and, in coordination with the coroner's office and other law enforcement partners, released his body to his family.

“The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners to conduct a thorough investigation of the shooting, and we followed standard procedures in handling the scene and evidence,” the FBI statement said. “Nothing was rushed and everything was documented as part of the investigation.”

House investigator rules out second shooter

Higgins ruled out two conspiracy theories about another possible shooter after visiting the fairgrounds and climbing the AGR building where Thomas Matthew Crooks was sitting to shoot Trump in the ear.

After Crooks fired eight shots, a Butler County police officer fired from the ground, hitting Crooks' AR rifle stock, which Higgins said broke. When Crooks “jumped back up” moments later, a Secret Service sniper shot and killed him.

Higgins said he climbed onto the roof of an air conditioning unit to get to the roof of the building “without any problems,” noting that he did not need a ladder to do so.

Higgins refuted a report of a “muzzle flash” coming from a window in the building, learning from an employee who worked in the office, “It won't open and it's never been opened.” Higgins reported that the fire was either a digital invention or the flash of a camera on the window pane.

And Higgins found no evidence that anyone might have climbed to the top of a nearby water tower, where videos posted online falsely suggested a dark figure or shadow was present there. Local authorities checked the tower with a drone the morning of Trump's rally, and Higgins said no 25-foot ladder was lowered that day to allow someone to climb the tower's catwalk.

Higgins said he had “seen no evidence to support the theory of a second shooter.”

FBI and Secret Service try to debunk conspiracy theories

FBI and Secret Service officials said Crooks appeared to have acted alone, but conspiracy theories quickly emerged suggesting there was a possibility of additional shooters.

“To date, we have found no evidence of accomplices or co-conspirators, either domestic or foreign,” FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on July 24.

Ronald Rowe, deputy director of the Secret Service, apologized to the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 30 for not providing information to Congress and the public more quickly.

“I fear this lack of information has given rise to numerous false and dangerous conspiracy theories about what happened that day,” Rowe said. “I want to debunk those theories.”

Further reports on the Secret Service are pending

Higgins said the House task force's review could take months, but his next report will be ready in a few weeks.

The Secret Service is expected to submit a report on its planning and response to the assassination by mid-September.

The FBI continues to investigate without setting a deadline.

“The FBI continues its meticulous investigative work to obtain the most complete picture possible of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. We remain committed to the greatest possible transparency by continuing to brief Congress and release information about the ongoing investigation to the public,” the FBI statement said.

Congressman criticizes FBI in investigation into Trump shooting

Higgins criticizes FBI for releasing shooter's body

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Congressman criticizes FBI in investigation into Trump shooting

Higgins criticizes FBI for releasing shooter's body

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