In a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing, Representative Jim Jordan grilled ATF Director Steven Dettelbach over the controversial raid that resulted in the death of Bryan Malinowski, a Little Rock airport executive. The raid, which took place on March 19th, 2024, has raised serious questions about the tactics used by the ATF and the apparent lack of transparency in the aftermath.
Key Points from the Hearing
Jim Jordan pressed Director Dettelbach on several critical issues:
- Tampering with Surveillance: The ATF disabled the doorbell camera at Malinowski’s house and cut the electricity. Jordan questioned why these actions were taken, suggesting that they were attempts to hide something.
- Lack of Body Cameras: Jordan highlighted that ATF agents did not wear body cameras during the raid, despite policies and the high-risk nature of the operation. He demanded to know why these rules were not followed.
- Use of a No-Knock Warrant: The raid was conducted as a no-knock operation, which is typically reserved for situations where it’s deemed the only viable option. Jordan challenged the necessity of this approach, especially given Malinowski’s non-criminal background.
ATF’s Response
Director Dettelbach repeatedly stated that an independent investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the local prosecutor’s office was underway, emphasizing the need to respect the process and avoid commenting on pending matters. He assured that the ATF was not trying to hide anything and that they had called for the investigation to ensure transparency.
However, Jordan was not satisfied with these responses, pointing out that the public deserves to know why standard procedures, such as wearing body cameras and adhering to knock-and-announce protocols, were not followed.
NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE:
March 12, 2024: Joe Biden’s ATF assembles to raid Bryan Malinowski’s home.
They realize he isn’t home and call it off.
March 19, 2024: Agents re-assemble to raid Malinowski’s home.
Realize he’s home. Storm the home.
And kill Malinowski. pic.twitter.com/lTCY9UsgWS
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) May 23, 2024
The Background
The March 19th raid led to the death of Bryan Malinowski, a well-respected executive with no criminal history. The ATF’s decision to conduct a pre-dawn raid instead of a less confrontational approach has been widely criticized. Malinowski was shot to death in his home in a pre-dawn raid after “allegedly” firing at unknown home invaders, ATF agents, who returned fire, resulting in his death.
Ongoing Investigation and Criticism
The Arkansas State Police’s investigation concluded without addressing the ATF’s tactics, leaving the accountability question hanging. Critics argue that this oversight allows federal agents to evade consequences for their actions. The case has drawn comparisons to other controversial ATF operations, such as those at Ruby Ridge and Waco, which similarly resulted in the deaths of civilians and, in many cases, their beloved pet dogs, without significant repercussions for the agents involved.
What Needs to Happen Next?
Pro-gun advocates and those concerned about governmental overreach are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the raid. There is a growing demand for answers:
- Why was a no-knock raid deemed necessary?
- Why were body cameras not used?
- Why was Malinowski’s home raided in a manner that seemed designed to provoke a deadly confrontation?
The pressure is mounting on the ATF and the Department of Justice to provide clear, honest answers and to hold accountable any agents found to have violated protocols or engaged in misconduct. This case is not just about one man’s tragic death by an out-of-control division of the FBI, but about ensuring that federal law enforcement operates within the bounds of the law and maintains the trust of the public it serves.
Defund ATF
The House Judiciary Committee’s investigation, spearheaded by Rep. Jim Jordan, is a critical step in seeking justice for Bryan Malinowski and his family. These unaccountable agencies need increased transparency and accountability, especially in operations that can have deadly consequences. As this case unfolds, it will be crucial to keep the heat on the ATF for answers and reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
For further details on the background and the ongoing investigation, read more here.
That is their goal. To stop gun shops from selling guns and to kill the rest of us.
The take up arms call was made in Maryland in 2018.
And we sit here and talk about it every incident, each, one by one killing.
And what about the ones that don’t get reported???
The entire system is corrupt. The government has been failing us and supporting our enemies for decades.
And here we sit.
Everything about this Stinks. Not only did the AFT violate their own iron-clad policy of wearing using body cams, There were Locals there working with the ATF. They had BodyCams. They either did not turn them on, or they did not wear them. Even though their Local Dept. Policy is to wear and activate them when conducting operations. There is only ONE reason they would do this: The ATF told them NOT to turn on or Carry their body cams. THAT right there is KNOWLEDGE and INTENT they are Committing a Crime. The orders and procedures for this Debacle Did… Read more »
Still no accountability
Political posturing
Why not walk into his office at work and arrest him there using two or three agents in street clothes?
I am going to defer to a real lawyer on this one and one with a lot of experience. Rick Green of the Patriot Academy is a Distinguished Graduate of the UT School of Law and is a former Texas State Legislator. His attitude changed on all of the federal three letter agencies last week when the contents of the Mara Lago warrant were made public. His opinion confirms my opinion of many years. That commonly held opinion is this: the three letter agencies of the federal government have been rogue for decades and are beyond reform. They need to… Read more »
Arkansas has done their investigation and stated they can judge federal procedures. At this point I don’t give a rat’s patoot about and ATF agent getting injured when none of this had to occur. Dettlebum said about some 11,000 raids, that’s probably more than 10,000 that weren’t necessary. The AFT is the dangerous factor involved. Long story short, Mr. Malinowski did not have to die other than the AFT wanted it. Their raid squads are the most incompetent within the federal agencies and make Barney Fife the ideally trained operator.