In a recent development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has found itself at the center of controversy, following accusations of "obstruction" by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA).
The allegations stem from the FBI's handling of the body of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. According to Higgins, the FBI's decision to release Crooks' body for cremation just 10 days after the incident has hindered the ongoing investigation.
As reported by The Post Millennial, Higgins, a former police captain and current member of a bipartisan congressional task force investigating the assassination attempt, attempted to personally inspect Crooks' body on August 5. To his surprise, he discovered that the FBI had already released the body for cremation on July 23. "On J23, Crooks was gone. Nobody knew this until Monday, August 5, including the County Coroner, law enforcement, Sheriff, etc.," Higgins revealed in his preliminary report.
The congressman further alleged that the FBI's decision to release the body was made without notifying the county coroner, who, according to Higgins, still had "legal authority over the body." He argued that this lack of oversight has obstructed a comprehensive investigation. "The problem with me not being able to examine the actual body is that I won't know 100% if the coroner's report and the autopsy report are accurate. We will actually never know, Higgins stated.
Drawing parallels with the FBI's past actions, Higgins expressed his concern over the bureau's handling of the case. "Again, similar to releasing the crime scene and scrubbing crime scene biological evidence... this action by the FBI can only be described by any reasonable man as an obstruction to any following investigative effort, he wrote.
Higgins also questioned the timing of the body's release, which coincided with the launch of investigations into the assassination attempt by the Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight Committee. "Why, then, by what measure, would the FBI release his body to the family for cremation? This pattern of investigative scorched earth by the FBI is quite troubling, Higgins said.
In response to these allegations, the FBI has categorically denied any interference with the congressional investigation. A spokesperson for the bureau told Fox News that any such claims are "inaccurate and unfounded." The FBI maintained that the release of Crooks' body was done in coordination with the coroner's office and local law enforcement, adhering to "normal procedures."
These accusations from Higgins add to the growing criticism of federal authorities, including the FBI and Secret Service, for their handling of the assassination attempt. Despite the controversy, Higgins remains committed to a thorough investigation. "Every question will be answered, every theory explored, and every doubt erased. The American people deserve the full truth on the attempted assassination of President Trump," he assured the public.
Login