In a shocking development, Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins has fiercely criticized the FBI for releasing the body of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who attempted to kill former President Donald Trump, to his family for cremation just days after the shooting. Higgins, a Republican congressman known for his blunt approach, expressed deep concern over what he perceives as the FBI’s obstruction of further investigation into the July 13 incident.

The controversy erupted when Rep. Higgins, during a visit to the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania, on August 5, sought to examine Crooks’ body as part of his personal investigation into the security failures that led to the shooting. To his dismay, Higgins discovered that the body had been released for cremation by the FBI 10 days after the shooting.

In a report to the July 13 Task Force—a bipartisan committee formed to probe the shooting—Higgins was fuming, labeling the FBI’s actions as a direct hindrance to any thorough investigation. “My effort to examine Crooks’ body on Monday, August 5, caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact… the FBI released the body for cremation 10 days after,” Higgins wrote, highlighting what he sees as a major breach in standard investigative protocol.

Higgins was particularly alarmed by the FBI’s decision to release the body while it was still under the jurisdiction of the Butler County Coroner. He noted that the coroner would never have allowed the body to be cremated or buried without explicit authorization from the FBI. This action, according to Higgins, has now made it impossible to verify the accuracy of the coroner’s report and autopsy through an independent examination. “We will actually never know,” Higgins lamented, underscoring his frustration with the situation. “Yes, we’ll get the reports and pictures, etc., 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.”

Beyond the handling of Crooks’ body, Higgins also blasted the FBI for its management of the crime scene itself. According to the congressman, the FBI prematurely released the area just three days after the shooting, a move that he described as unprecedented and suspicious. Higgins reported that he had spoken with several first responders who expressed surprise and dismay at how quickly the FBI wrapped up their investigation at the scene.

“It should be noted that the FBI was fully aware of the fact that Congress would be investigating J13,” Higgins wrote, suggesting that the agency’s actions were deliberately obstructive. He further elaborated on the details of his investigation, noting that Crooks had positioned himself strategically on a rooftop to minimize the risk of counter-fire from the ground or Secret Service counter-sniper teams.

Crooks, who fired eight shots during the attack, was ultimately stopped when a SWAT operative returned fire, damaging Crooks’ weapon. The fatal shot, according to Higgins’ investigation, was delivered by a Secret Service sniper, striking Crooks in the face.

The attack was devastating, resulting in the death of 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore and the severe injury of two other rally attendees. A bullet even grazed Trump’s right ear, causing minor injuries before he was swiftly secured by Secret Service agents.

As Higgins continues to push for answers, this incident has raised serious questions about the FBI’s conduct in handling such a high-profile case. The congressman’s revelations have only deepened the mystery surrounding the attack and the subsequent investigation, leaving many to wonder what really happened behind the scenes in Butler, Pennsylvania.