FBI accused of dereliction of duty in protecting Trump

 The Federalist Wire:

...

With few details available about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin targeting former President Trump, concerns are mounting over the FBI’s handling of the investigation. One member of the House task force investigating the assassination attempt is calling out the FBI for failing to be transparent.

Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., a key member of the Bipartisan Assassination Task Force, appeared on “Fox News Sunday” alongside Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Penn., to discuss the probe into the U.S. Secret Service’s failures during the July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. It was there that Crooks fired multiple rounds from a rooftop left unchecked by security, a breach that nearly cost Trump his life.

While both Waltz and Dean acknowledged that the initial failures appeared to be with the Secret Service, which has since accepted responsibility, Waltz made a sharp distinction between the transparency shown by the Secret Service and the stonewalling by the FBI.

“The Secret Service is being forthcoming about its failures in communication guidance to locals having appropriate command posts. The FBI, on the other hand, is completely stonewalling this task force,” Waltz stated, expressing his frustration. “It has not been forthcoming.”

This is not the first time the FBI has faced criticism for its handling of investigations involving Trump.

Back in July, FBI Director Christopher Wray downplayed the incident, telling lawmakers that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, hit his ear.”

However, just two days later, the bureau admitted that what struck Trump was indeed a bullet, fired from the rifle of Crooks, who was later found dead.

Waltz is pushing for FBI Director Wray and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to step up and hold a press conference, similar to the one the Secret Service recently conducted.

“We still know virtually nothing about Crooks, the shooter in Butler—about his encrypted accounts, how he learned to build those IEDs,” Waltz emphasized.

The lack of information is only adding to the suspicion surrounding the FBI’s conduct.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., ranking member of the HSGAC Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, echoed these concerns, pointing out that the FBI has only provided lawmakers with heavily redacted documents. “I’ve never seen this,” Johnson said, slamming the agency for its lack of cooperation.

The botched investigation has placed the FBI under intense scrutiny, especially given the heightened threats against Trump, a man who continues to challenge the establishment at every turn. The shooting at the July 13 Trump rally has raised serious questions about the safety of elected officials in today’s increasingly partisan and volatile environment.

But it doesn’t end there. Waltz also highlighted another alarming issue: the FBI’s failure to provide information on Iran’s ongoing plots to assassinate Trump, as well as the regime’s hacking of Trump campaign data, which was then allegedly shared with the Biden-Harris campaign.

“And when asked about it behind closed doors, the FBI would not give us any information to the Intelligence Committee,” Waltz revealed. “Just this week. It’s completely unacceptable and we need to issue those subpoenas.”
...

It is not clear whether the problem lies with the top echelons of the FBI or with the rank and file.  I tend to doubt that the rank and file of the FBI is the main problem.  At least the Secret Service has taken responsibility for its failures.  Congress needs to get to the bottom of this problem.  It should also look into whether this problem is because of an anti-Trump bias.