Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA) is criticizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its decision to release Thomas Matthew Crooks’ body to his family for cremation shortly after Crooks’ attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. The congressman expressed his concerns over the agency’s actions in a report to the July 13 Task Force, a bipartisan committee investigating security lapses related to the incident.
Higgins disclosed that Crooks’ body was handed over for cremation 10 days after the shooting. He learned of this development while in Butler, Pennsylvania, conducting his investigation at the rally site. The congressman described this decision as an obstruction to further investigation, noting that even local law enforcement and the county coroner were unaware of the body’s release until August 5.
Higgins underscored the difficulties this posed for verifying the coroner’s report and autopsy. He emphasized that while reports and photographs exist, their accuracy could not be confirmed through an examination of Crooks’ body.
“Please note, Mr. Chairman, that on J23, the day that Crooks was cremated, both the Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight Committee had begun House Committee jurisdictional investigation into J13, and Speaker Johnson had already stated that he was forming an Official Congressional investigative body,” Higgins wrote in his report, adding: “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 also scrutinized the FBI’s handling of the crime scene, stating the agency released it after just three days, a decision he found unusual. The report notes that the FBI’s cleanup efforts included the removal of biological evidence, an action atypical for law enforcement. Several first responders voiced surprise and concern over the crime scene‘s early release, Higgins added.
