Staff Reports
Senator Ron Johnson is raising alarms over what he describes as a lackluster response from the Secret Service and the FBI regarding the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. According to him, these agencies appear to be “dragging their feet” when it comes to providing vital information, and it’s not just the senator’s impatience surfacing. It’s indicative of an ongoing trend of government inefficiency that many conservatives have come to expect.
A task force was swiftly assembled following this alarming event, aimed at uncovering the facts surrounding the near-miss on Trump’s life. Yet, it’s been reported that this task force has repeatedly reached out to top officials including Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray for information, only to be met with heavy bureaucracy and red tape. Johnson, who leads the Senate’s bipartisan inquiry into the assassination plot, has expressed frustration, noting that the documents he’s been receiving are so redacted that they resemble Swiss cheese more than anything informative. Not exactly ideal for an inquiry trying to piece together a real crisis.
Ron Johnson says Secret Service, FBI "basically dragging their feet" on Trump assassination attempt investigation https://t.co/lnsSliNQCM
— The Hill (@thehill) August 25, 2024
Concerns are mounting, and Johnson isn’t dismissing the idea that the strange behavior from these agencies could stoke the fires of conspiracy theories. He pointed out how bizarre it is that the would-be assassin’s body was handed over for cremation without any thorough investigation or autopsy reports made public. It raises eyebrows and fuels speculation about what is really going on behind closed doors. Johnson could hardly believe that the FBI’s customary procedures are being followed to the letter when it seems more like a smoke-and-mirrors game.
Adding to the circus is Representative Clay Higgins, who attempted to survey the body of the alleged assassin, only to find it had been released to the family shortly after the incident. This transparency, or lack thereof, is indeed causing many to raise their eyebrows—and perhaps their pitchforks—at the government’s apparent disregard for full accountability. The narrative that the FBI and Secret Service believe they can operate above Congressional scrutiny is not going down well among expectant lawmakers and the anxious public.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are not sitting idly by. They are conducting their own independent investigation into this attempted assassination, led by Representatives Cory Mills and Eli Crane. They plan to host a forum featuring heavyweights like former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, and Washington regional SWAT operator Ben Shaffer. This is a concerted effort to peel back layers of speculation and make sure this investigation is robust—because let’s face it, the only people who want this mystery swept under the rug are those whom it might implicate.
With a final report expected by December 13, there’s hope that the truth will ultimately come out. However, the task force’s interim updates will likely reflect just how resistant certain federal agencies are to giving information away freely, which is nothing new to conservative observers of Washington’s Capitol Hill. The saga continues, and so does the question: What are they hiding?
