Scalise, Wenstrup Statement On Disgraced Former Acting FBI Director Andrew Mccabe's Comments On Congressional Baseball Shooter's Motive

Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence member Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) issued the following statement regarding former FBI Director Andrew McCabe's comments on CNN:

"Four years ago, a deranged gunman opened fire on our Republican baseball team practice, unloading 136 rounds. He did so after confirming our political party and was found to have a list of Republican members in his pocket. Furthermore, the would-be assassin belonged to a Facebook group titled "Terminate the Republican Party.' If the disgraced former acting FBI director doesn't know why the shooter attacked us, is it because he has willfully chosen to ignore the facts and pretend Republicans cannot be the victims of leftwing violence? We understand, however, why Mr. McCabe might be missing some facts as the FBI, under his leadership, failed to conduct an honest and thorough investigation into the event, leading to the initial designation of "suicide by cop,' which the FBI recently corrected. Maybe they didn't know when Mr. McCabe was in charge, but they seem to know now."

Background:

On June 14, 2017, an unhinged gunman opened fire on the Republican Congressional Baseball Team's practice at Simpson Field in Alexandria, VA. During the events, two individuals were hit, including Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who was shot in the hip. Congressman Brad Wenstrup, a doctor and Iraq War veteran, was the first to reach Scalise and provide medical attention. Wenstrup was later credited with saving Scalise's life and was subsequently awarded the Soldier's Medal by the Army for bravery demonstrated on the field that day.

Whip Scalise suffered life-threatening injuries from the shooting, requiring nearly 10 surgeries and three months in intensive care and a rehabilitation center.

Andrew McCabe was the Acting Director of the FBI at the time of the shooting and remained in the position during the preliminary investigation until August 2, 2017.

Wenstrup was later credited with saving Scalise's life and was subsequently awarded the Soldier's Medal by the Army for bravery demonstrated on the field that day.

In November 2017, the FBI held a briefing for members of the baseball team who were present at the field during the shooting. During that briefing, an FBI briefer told members of the team that the Bureau's investigation concluded the shooter's motives to be "suicide by cop."

During an open HPSCI hearing on April 15, 2021, Congressman Wenstrup asked FBI Director Wray how the FBI had reached that determination. He sent a formal letter calling on the Bureau to open a new investigation into the shooting, as many, if not all, of the congressional shooting witnesses were not interviewed by the FBI. He also requested that the FBI conduct an internal review of what led to the original determination.

Congressman Wenstrup sent a follow-up letter with Republican Whip Steve Scalise and 15 members who were either present on the field or named on the shooter's potential "hit list."

On May 14, 2021, FBI Director Wray called Congressman Wenstrup to give him an advanced notice that the FBI would be sending a formal response informing him that the FBI considers the shooter's motives to be "domestic violent extremism."

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