In a turn of events that has raised significant concerns about investigative transparency, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) revealed that the FBI released the body of presidential assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks for cremation only ten days after the attempt on former President Donald Trump's life.
Higgins argues that this early release, coupled with the cleanup of evidence from the crime scene, has severely hindered the ongoing investigation, as Breitbart reports.
On July 13, a shocking assassination attempt was made on former President Trump. Just ten days later, on July 23, the FBI permitted the cremation of Crooks' body, raising immediate red flags for Rep. Clay Higgins. Upon seeking to examine Crooks' body, Higgins found it had already been released and cremated without prior notification to relevant authorities.
Higgins, concerned about the integrity of the investigation, pointed out that the FBI had cleaned up biological evidence from the crime scene. “Cops don’t do that, ever,” he remarked, questioning the FBI’s rapid actions. Despite the Butler County Coroner having legal authority over the body, Higgins asserted that such a decision for cremation could only take place with FBI consent.
Higgins’ inquiries on Aug. 5 unveiled a baffling reality: many key local authorities, including the Butler County Coroner and Sheriff, were unaware of the body’s cremation. He reported, “Nobody knew this until Monday, August 5.”
The FBI released the crime scene after merely three days, a move that left many first responders and law enforcement officials surprised and distrustful. Higgins characterized the FBI’s actions as contradictory to standard law enforcement practices.
Congress was actively investigating the assassination attempt dubbed "J13" when this revelation came to light. According to Higgins, the FBI should have been fully aware that such premature actions would hamper congressional investigations and other oversight efforts. He elaborated, “The FBI does not exist in a vacuum. They had to know that releasing the J13 crime scene would injure the immediate observations of any following investigation.”
Higgins was notably disturbed by the delayed coroner's and autopsy reports, which were overdue as of Aug. 5. Highlighting the importance of his examination, he stated, “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 argued that the reports and photographs alone couldn’t guarantee an accurate understanding of the body’s state without firsthand examination, suggesting that any resultant findings could be suspect.
On the same day as the cremation, both the House Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight Committee had initiated investigations into J13. Speaker Mike Johnson subsequently announced the creation of an official congressional investigation team to delve deeper into the incident.
Higgins continued to question the rationale behind the FBI's decision to release Crooks' body for cremation under these questionable circumstances. “Why, then, by what measure, would the FBI release his body to the family for cremation?” he asked, expressing his skepticism about the agency's motivations.
Higgins did not pull back in condemning the FBI’s actions, describing them as a "pattern of investigative scorched earth." This accusation implies that the federal agency's handling of the case may have been reckless and obstructive, potentially compromising the trust and efficacy of the investigative process.
The timeline and nature of the FBI’s actions in releasing both the body and the crime scene have become central concerns. Congress and Rep. Higgins are scrutinizing these decisions, demanding accountability and transparency from the agency.
Summing up, Rep. Clay Higgins has expressed grave concerns about the FBI's decision to release Thomas Matthew Crooks' body for cremation. The seriousness of the early cleanup of biological evidence and the release of the crime scene after only three days strike at the heart of the investigative integrity. With congressional investigations underway, the focus remains on whether due diligence and proper procedures were followed by the FBI.
