Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has raised serious concerns over the FBI’s handling of the body of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Higgins, who joined Congress’ bipartisan task force to review the assassination attempt, revealed that when he attempted to view Crooks’ body on August 5, he was informed that it was no longer available, as the FBI had released it for cremation just 10 days after the incident. This move has sparked controversy, with Higgins accusing the FBI of obstruction and questioning why local law enforcement and the county coroner were not informed, despite the coroner still having legal authority over the body.
In his preliminary investigative report submitted to Task Force Chairman Mike Kelly, Higgins expressed his frustration, stating, “We will actually never know. Yes, we’ll get the reports and pictures, but I will not ever be able to say with certainty that those reports and pictures are accurate according to my own examination of the body.” He further criticized the FBI’s actions as undermining the integrity of the investigation, comparing the release of Crooks’ body to releasing and scrubbing a crime scene, which he described as a clear obstruction to any further investigative efforts.
Higgins’ concerns were compounded by the timing of the FBI’s actions, as the body was cremated on July 23, the same day that the Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight Committee had opened investigations into the assassination attempt. The FBI’s decision has raised questions about the transparency and thoroughness of the investigation, with Higgins demanding answers as to why the body was released without informing key officials involved in the case.
The situation has led to increased scrutiny of the FBI’s role in handling high-profile investigations, particularly those involving threats against political figures. As Higgins continues to push for accountability, the controversy over the handling of Crooks’ body remains a focal point in the broader discussion about the transparency and effectiveness of federal investigative processes.
