The investigation into the July 13 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump has sparked new controversy after Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) revealed alarming details about the FBI’s handling of critical evidence. In a preliminary report, Higgins claims the FBI removed crucial biological evidence from the crime scene and released the shooter’s body for cremation just days after the incident, raising concerns about possible obstruction of justice.
The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight shots from a rooftop during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was eventually neutralized by a combination of local SWAT officers and a Secret Service sniper. Despite the seriousness of the attack, Higgins noted that the FBI’s swift cleanup of the scene was “unheard of” in law enforcement.
Even more concerning was Higgins’s discovery that the FBI authorized the cremation of Crooks’s body without informing local officials. “By the time I tried to examine the body on August 5, it was already gone,” Higgins reported, adding that neither the county coroner nor local law enforcement were consulted. This development makes it impossible to verify autopsy reports or confirm other crucial details.
The FBI has denied any wrongdoing, stating that all actions were taken according to established protocols. However, Higgins and other critics argue that these actions have undermined the investigation’s integrity. The Secret Service is also under fire for communication lapses during the event, with reports that key radios were not picked up by agents.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the FBI’s handling of this high-profile case and whether justice is being served.
