Washington, D.C. – In a bombshell report released Tuesday, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence accused the FBI of deliberately downplaying the politically motivated 2017 shooting that nearly killed House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and injured several others. The shooter, James Hodgkinson, was a far-left extremist who opened fire on Republican congressmen practicing for the annual charity baseball game—but the FBI called it “suicide by cop.”
That decision, the report says, wasn’t just wrong—it was dishonest.
The 27-page unclassified report, compiled from more than 3,000 pages of FBI records recently turned over by new Director Kash Patel, reveals that the Bureau ignored or buried clear evidence of political terrorism. Hodgkinson had a hit list of GOP members, had cased the field for two months, and had posted violently anti-Republican rants online. Yet the FBI’s leadership under then-Acting
Director Andrew McCabe told the public there was “no nexus to terrorism.”
“The FBI used false statements, manipulation of known facts, and biased and butchered analysis,” the report concludes.
The Narrative Was Set—Facts Be Damned
The report states the FBI didn’t even interview all the survivors, including Rep. Mo Brooks, who was both shot at and on the shooter’s target list. It never built a full timeline, and classified much of the case unnecessarily—hiding shoddy investigative work from public view.
The FBI’s “suicide by cop” theory was based on cherry-picked facts: a couple of goodbye letters, Hodgkinson giving away some belongings, and his brother’s opinion. But the shooter’s behavior—searching for directions home the night before, texting his wife, taking cover during the attack, and making plans to return—suggested otherwise.
The Committee’s report also points out that Hodgkinson had handwritten notes with phrases like:
“A man realizes the political scene has changed drastically over the last 35 years and wants to show the people how to win back the power of the people.”
And yet, somehow, that wasn’t enough for the FBI to even consider domestic terrorism.
Delayed Admission, Political Timing
It wasn’t until 2021—after pressure from Congress and scrutiny over January 6—that the FBI reversed itself and admitted the shooting was in fact an act of domestic terrorism by a “domestic violent extremist.” That admission came four years too late and was buried in the appendix of a bureaucratic report.
House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford didn’t mince words:
“This was a premeditated assassination attempt on Republican congressmen by a radical, left-wing political extremist… The Bureau completely botched the investigation.”
The report even suggests that Congress consider criminal liability for politicizing intelligence analysis—marking a sharp escalation in oversight battles with federal agencies.
Did Gun Owners Take the Fall?
While the FBI was bending over backward not to offend left-wing political sensitivities, American gun owners bore the blame. Gun control advocates pointed to the shooting as another example of “gun violence,” with no mention of the shooter’s radical political motives. The Smith & Wesson M&P AR-15 and the 9mm pistol he used—both lawfully purchased—were scapegoated, while his motive was scrubbed from the headlines.
This wasn’t just a failure of intelligence—it was a cover-up of political violence.
The Real Target Wasn’t Just Congress—It Was the Truth
The report makes it clear: the FBI misled Congress, the public, and the victims. Instead of sounding the alarm on the rising threat of left-wing political violence, the Bureau chose to protect its narrative.
Gun owners, once again, were left carrying the political burden of a violent act they had no part in.
As the House gears up for the 2025 Congressional Baseball Game, many are wondering—will the FBI ever truly be held accountable?
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I don’t know about a’y’all, but it was ALWAYS known from the get-go about the 2017 shooter’s political leanings and LibTard political rants. This is old news.
The FBI does what it wants. As does every other three letter agency. No one will go to prison. No one will be fired. Nothing will change, unless the FBI along with the rest of the anti American three letter agencies are abolished.
Good news, just this morning Kash Petel announced the closing of the J. Edgar Hoover building in Washington, District of Corruption. Fifteen hundred agents will be distributed across the nation, to do some actual work!
The FBI and politicians lied. Just another day that ends in Y
Fat Boys have not changed from the hoover days, it is still illegal criminal gang set up by socialists needs to be gone the parts that are the cover for their real actions could be base for a new agency ,but most of the people in fbi are anti american socialists ,do what we tell you we are in charge, send them all to ukrain to front lines
And this causes surprise? Why. Liars lie. So it has always been.
FWIW, I recall reading about that sorry event… and it was quite clear in local media of very liberal Washington that the shooter was a very left winger, had prepped meticulously, and that his intention was to murder as many Members of the HOR as possible. I also got similar info from some National and British sources as well. Dunno how the FBI actually reported in the event.
Things will be a little bit better with some disclosure, but if you think the cover-ups, lies and ambiguity are a thing of the past, let’s start with Epsteen, the kid shooter in PA and some recent shootings by those taking legally prescribed medications and so many more that we’ve forgotten about. This report will primarily be heard by people who already know. Here’s an 8 year old bone, you can trust us now (wink, wink).
What did anyone expect from the FBI in those days? They’re just like any other corrupt government agency!
They and the rest are exactly what the author of the Declaration of Independence was talking about!
I’m happy to see this surfacing again with the truth included. It’s been 4 months, now and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes with Patel & Bongino running the FBI. If there’s any hope of improvement, it lies in this administration and the next. Gotta be better than with Democrats in charge. VOTE midterms, it matters.