FBI accused of ‘lying’ about what happened to Thomas Matthew Crook’s body after Donald Trump assassination attempt

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent in Palm Beach, Florida

Donald Trump signaled that he could vote to end Florida’s six-week abortion ban when it comes up in a referendum later this year, as he continues his delicate dance around a key election issue.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com he previewed an upcoming announcement on his voting stance by saying that he did not think six weeks was enough time.

But he avoided committing to using the presidential veto if a nationwide federal ban arrived on his desk as president even though his running mate said he would.

In office, Trump reveled in being the most pro-life president in history, taking credit for ending federal protections for abortion by installing the conservative justices on the Supreme Court who overturned Roe v Wade.

This time he is trying to keep both sides happy on one of the most divisive issues in the election by saying it is up to states to decide their own laws.

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., is sparking fresh conspiracy theories after he tore into the FBI for spewing more ‘lies’ about Trump shooter 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Higgins, who was appointed to Congress‘ bipartisan task force reviewing the assassination attempt, tried to view Crooks’ body on August 5 as part of his own personal inspection.

But his request to view the body ’caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact.’

It was at this point that he learned that the FBI had ‘released the body for cremation 10 days’ after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Higgins says ‘nobody knew’ that the body had been returned to the family, including the county coroner and local enforcement.

The FBI slapped back at Higgins, telling DailyMail.com that ‘any suggestion the FBI is interfering with congressional efforts’ is ‘inaccurate and unfounded.’

‘We have followed normal procedures in the handling of the crime scene and evidence.’

But Higgins said that is all fabricated in a fresh statement Thursday:

Once again, the FBI is lying. It is 100% NOT “standard procedure” to cremate a body at the center of a major criminal investigation BEFORE a following investigative authority has had an opportunity to examine that body, when the FBI is VERY MUCH AWARE that a following investigative authority is coming right behind them.

Same thing with a crime scene. The FBI is acting like they’re royalty. They. Are. Not. But that’s all right, it’s cool. Best served cold, actually. I’ll have these oppressors of truth before Congress.

The Department of Defense approved a request from the Secret Service to assist with the protection of presidential and VP candidates.

The request was made in light of the attempted assassination of ex-President Donald Trump on July 13.

Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh:

The Department of Defense recently received a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security for additional military support capabilities to be afforded to major presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The secretary of defense approved the request and directed the commander of U.S. Northern Command to plan, provide, and execute increased support to the United States Secret Service at various locations across the United States during the 2024 election campaigns.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

The Army on Thursday defended a staff member at Arlington National Cemetery who confronted Donald Trump’s campaign officials when they took photos and video of the former president in a restricted area of the cemetery.

In a long and unusual statement, the Army noted the Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) staffer acted with ‘professionalism’ but added that since she was not going to press charges, they considered the matter ‘closed.’

‘Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside,’ the Army spokesperson said about Trump’s visit.

‘Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption. The incident was reported to the JBM-HH police department, but the employee subsequently decided not to press charges. Therefore the Army considers the matter closed.

‘This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked. ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve.’

Arlington National Cemetery is considered hallowed ground in the U.S. military and is managed by the Army.

The media were not allowed to accompany Trump to Section 60, the final resting place for those who died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan – a place regularly visited by spouses and family members of the fallen.

Trump had posed for photos with the family and laid flowers at the tombs of some soldiers who died, according to images posted on social media by his team.

While families often take photos at gravesites of loved ones, federal law prohibits any political activity in the cemetery.

Trump, who is running for a second term in the White House, was invited to visit on Monday by family members of the some of the soldiers killed three years ago when U.S. troops exited Afghanistan.

He laid three separate wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then went with the families to Section 60. His campaign posted a video of both parts of the visit on its TikTok account.

The Trump campaign notes they were invited to be at the cemetery and said they had permission ahead of time to bring a photographer.

They have also threatened to release footage backing up their version of the story. They said an official with the cemetery tried to ‘physically block’ members of Trump’s team.

The families of the fallen said they had invited Trump and gave ‘our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever.’

Polling guru Nate Silver’s forecast model shows Trump a slight favorite.

He said it ‘wasn’t a good day for Kamala Harris in our model, as Donald Trump is the slight favorite for the first time since August 3.’

Silver said the one big reason is the key state of Pennsylvania where ‘It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a poll showing Harris leading (including two new polls today),’ he wrote.

At this time Trump has a 52 percent chance of winning and Harris 47 percent, according to the widely followed forecasting model.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Sen. J.D. Vance made his appeal to ‘booing’ firefighters at a conference in Boston on Thursday.

The Republican vice presidential nominee took in stride the commanding boos that came over a chorus of cheers at the International Association of Firefighters conference as he urged them to give him a chance to deliver his ‘pitch’ to earn their vote.

Sounds like we’ve got some fans and some haters – that’s OK.

He urged the crowd to ‘listen to what i have to say here and I’ll make my pitch.’

I know, this is a diverse union, some of you love President Trump and some of you clearly don’t. I’ve heard from both sides just given this little speech.

Now this may come as a shock to you, but once upon a time I wasn’t a Trump guy either. And trust me the president never lets me forget it.’

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Sen. J.D. Vance thinks it’s time for billionaire venture capitalist Peter Thiel to help bankroll Donald Trump’s campaign.

The Ohio Republican and vice presidential nominee told Financial Times that he wants his former boss to get more outwardly involved in the 2024 race.

He is fundamentally a conservative guy, and I think that he needs to get off the sidelines and support the ticket.

Thiel, disaapointed with Trump’s presidency, said last year he did not intend to give ‘any money to Republican politicians in 2024.’

‘There’s always a chance I might change my mind,’ he added at the time.

Vance served as a principal at Thiel’s firm Mithril Capita between 2016 and 2017 – before he ever ran for office.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to President Joe Biden, met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his trip to Beijing.

Sullivan is in China to meet with senior Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a senior general of the Central Military Commission.

He was sent by Biden with the goal of keeping communications open between Washington and Beijing as relations have soured between the two super powers.

He and Xi discussed plans for a call between President Biden and President Xi in the coming weeks, the White House said in a readout.

‘We believe that competition with China does not have to lead to conflict or confrontation. The key is responsible management through diplomacy,’ Sullivan told reporters in China.

Sullivan said the two leaders might meet in person before Biden leaves the White House, possibly at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, which is in Peru in November.

If Biden doesn’t travel to China he will be the first president since Jimmy Carter not to visit.

Former Trump aide Rep. Max Miller, 35, has filed for divorce from his wife Emily Moreno, 30, less than one year after the birth of their newborn baby.

According to a court filing in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, first obtained by DailyMail.com, the Ohio freshman congressman is divorcing his wife Emily after two years of marriage.

The unraveling of their marriage comes 10 months after the birth of their firstborn daughter Ruth. Miller had posted an Instagram on November 4, 2023 introducing ‘our beautiful daughter Ruth’ saying at the time that her birth is a reminder of the ‘importance of family.’

Emily is also the daughter and former campaign manager of Bernie Moreno, who is the GOP nominee for Senate taking on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in one of the most competitive and expensive races in the country.

Moreno and Miller got engaged in 2021 after his messy relationship with ex-Melania spokeswoman and White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham came to an end after allegations of ‘abuse.’

President Donald Trump spoke at their wedding a year later in August 2022 at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor Corey Lewandowski is calling on CNN to ask Vice President Kamala Harris ‘tough questions’ during her interview taping on Thursday afternoon.

During a press call on Thursday morning, Lewandowski railed against Harris’ ‘insulting’ 38-day delay in sitting down for a formal interview since becoming the Democratic candidate.

CNN’s obligation is to ask Kamala Harris the tough questions that she’s been avoiding since her coronation as a Democratic nominee. And Donald Trump has an opportunity in this election to do something that no candidate has ever done – beat not one but two Democrat nominees in the same election cycle.

I think every person in America should be insulted by the fact that Kamala Harris hasn’t sat down yet, hasn’t answered questions on her own.

Barack Obama posted a split image of himself and Vice President Kamala Harris both donning tan suits and white shirts.

The ‘tan suit’ controversy surrounding the former president came after he wore the light-colored outfit during a press conference on the prospect of escalating U.S. military response to ISIS in Syria.

But over the years, the situation has become the frequent topic of jokes and the controversey has been seen as petty and trivial.

In an Instagram post of the tan suit split-screen, Obama wrote:

How it started. How it’s going. Ten years later, and it’s still a good look! IWillVote.com

By Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent for DailyMail.com in Palm Beach, Florida

When she finally sits for her first interview since becoming the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris must explain why she has flip-flopped on so many policies,  why she has done nothing to secure the southern border while in power, and why she needs a human shield alongside her, according to one avid viewer of television news, former President Donald J. Trump.

Trump sat down with DailyMail.com in the palatial living room of his Mar-a-Lago headquarters on Wednesday.

He discussed everything from the assassination attempt that almost killed him to the policies he will implement on his first day in office. But first he laid out the questions that CNN‘s Dana Bash must ask the vice president in their interview.

At the top of his list: What is she hiding from?

‘Why isn’t it live? It’s not a live interview,’ he said. ‘It’s an interview that’s going to be taped and then edited and then put out. So that’s not even an interview.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Kamala Harris’ first formal interview will finally debut on Thursday night – but her running mate is joining her for the sit-down.

The joint interview with Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will air on CNN at 9:00 p.m. ET and anchor Dana Bash is asking the questions.

There has been a general swell of momentum in the 37 days since Harris launched her campaign, but also a slew of criticism for refusing to engage in a sit-down interview or hold a press conference.

And now the new question is – when will Harris sit for a solo interview without the buffer of Walz?

In her 2020 primary bid, Harris was generally viewed as unlikable and had issues earning support. So much so that she dropped out before the primary elections kicked-off.

And as vice president, Harris earned no votes to propel her to the 2024 Democratic nomination after she took over President Joe Biden’s campaign when he dropped his reelection bid last month.

Before the interview airs on Thursday, Harris will be campaigning in Savannah, Georgia.

1. Were you the ‘last person in the room’ with President Joe Biden as he prepared to enact his evacuation plan in Afghanistan and did you voice any concerns about his strategy?
2. When did you know the truth about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental state and at what point did you realize he could not continue to run for president? Are you confident President Biden has the ability to serve out his full term?
3. You campaigned against President Donald Trump’s border wall, calling it ‘medieval’ and ‘a complete waste of tax payer money’ and ‘un-American,’ and yet you endorsed the Senate bill that would resume the construction of physical barriers on the Southern border. Do you support continuing construction of the border wall and do you think the project should be finished?
4. Do you still support decriminalizing border crossings?
5. You’ve proposed a $25,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers and expanding the child tax credit to as much as $6,000. What stopped you from enacting these proposals during your first term as vice president?
6. Do you still support the Senate breaking the filibuster to enact federal abortion rights and voting rights?
7. During the 2020 campaign, you promised to enact free college, affordable childcare, paid family leave, and a national minimum wage $15 an hour. Why did you and Biden fail to enact this agenda despite spending over $4 trillion?
8. You spent trillions in your first term which only made inflation worse. What will you do to spend less taxpayer funds?
9. Do you support expanding the Supreme Court? Should there be term limits for Supreme Court justices?
10. Would you pardon Hunter Biden?
11. Should Americans be allowed to own AR-15s and AK-47s? Do you still support a mandatory gun buyback program?
12. Would you consider withholding aid for Israel if they fail humanitarian expectations in Gaza?
13. What should be the timeline or conditions for the release of the hostages held by Hamas?
14. What’s the best way to end the war in Ukraine?
15. Would you defend Taiwan military if China decided to attack?
16. Do you believe there should be any restrictions on abortion or should the choice be left entirely up to a woman until the moment of birth?
17. Do you still support taxpayer funded health care for all? What about free health care for migrants and undocumented residents?
18. You’ve voiced your oppositions to assigning police officers to secure schools – how would you propose to secure schools from mass shootings?
19. You’ve campaigned on the idea of a future without gas powered vehicles. When do you think the federal government ban the sale of new gas powered vehicles?
20. Should police officers continue acting as first responders in 911 calls?
21. What inspired you to endorse President Donald Trump’s plan to end taxes on tips?
22. Republicans are accusing your running mate of ‘stolen valor’ – did you know the details of his military record when you selected him as your running mate?
23. Do you support giving the state the power to allow life-altering gender affirming care for children under the age of 18 without parental consent? Should the federal government overrule state laws preventing gender surgeries for minors?
24. When was the last time you spent time with your father? What is your relationship like with him today?
25. What happened to the ‘special guest’ that was teased during the Democratic National Convention? Why wasn’t it Beyonce?

Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris among independent voters, a new poll finds.

The YouGov poll found 42 percent of independent voters back Trump while 37 percent said they would vote for Harris.

It found 13 percent of independent voters were unsure which candidate they will vote for.