The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has been marred by allegations of mishandling and possible cover-ups, particularly concerning the cremation of the shooter’s body. The controversial decision to incinerate the remains of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who targeted Trump during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, has ignited intense scrutiny and fueled a whirlwind of conspiracy theories.

On July 13, Thomas Crooks, 20, breached multiple layers of security at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Connoquenessing Township, Pennsylvania, and fired shots at Trump during an outdoor address. Fortunately for Trump, he sustained only a minor injury—a graze on his right ear. However, the incident resulted in two severe injuries to bystanders and the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50. Crooks was neutralized by a Secret Service sniper shortly after his attack.

The FBI's handling of Crooks' body has come under fire following the revelation that it was cremated before the coroner had completed an examination. This move has been criticized for potentially obstructing further investigative efforts. A source within the Beltway commented on the situation, stating, "We have the preliminary coroner's report, but that's not the same as independent congressional investigators examining the body at the morgue. Unfortunately, Crooks' body is now a pile of ash, and the truth may have been incinerated along with it."

The timeline of the attack has also raised questions. Reports indicate that there was a 42-minute delay from when Crooks was first spotted holding a range finder to when he fired the first shot. Furthermore, it took 20 minutes for Secret Service snipers to respond after spotting him on the roof of a law enforcement command center, located 164 yards from the speaking area.

In the wake of the attack, significant fallout ensued. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, FBI Director Christopher Wray faced intense questioning on Capitol Hill, and the House of Representatives established a bipartisan task force to investigate the incident. However, this congressional probe encountered a significant obstacle on August 5, when Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins, a former police captain, was denied access to Crooks' body.

Higgins reported that he was informed the FBI had released Crooks' remains to his family on July 23 without the consent or knowledge of the county coroner or local law enforcement. In a report submitted to task force chairman Mike Kelly, Higgins expressed frustration over the inability to verify the accuracy of the coroner's and autopsy reports, stating, "The problem with me not being able to examine the actual body is that I won't know 100 percent if the coroner's report and the autopsy report are accurate."

Higgins further criticized the FBI for what he described as the premature release of the crime scene and the potential destruction of biological evidence. "This action by the FBI can only be described by any reasonable man as an obstruction to any following investigative effort," Higgins declared.

In response, the FBI defended its actions, asserting that the body was released in accordance with standard procedures, which included coordination with the coroner's office and local law enforcement. "The release of Crooks' body to his family was done in keeping with normal procedures," an FBI spokesperson said.

The controversy surrounding the handling of Crooks' remains has only intensified public speculation and fueled numerous conspiracy theories. The Beltway insider noted, "The public deserves to know how this could have happened. People are saying Crooks was the victim of some kind of mind control by the CIA, and now, with his body prematurely cremated, questions and doubts will persist."

The situation echoes past controversies, such as the swift removal of President John F. Kennedy's body from Dallas' Parkland Hospital before a thorough postmortem investigation could be conducted. The insider drew a parallel, suggesting, "It's a lot like what happened with Kennedy, when his aides and the FBI rushed his body out of Dallas' Parkland Hospital before the county medical examiner could perform a postmortem investigation. Now, decades later, we're left with nothing but doubt over Kennedy's death and the feeling that the public never got the full story. And so shall it apparently be with this attempt on Trump's life."