U.S. House Judiciary Committee asks ATF for details of March raid on Malinowski home in Little Rock
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Congressional leaders said Monday that they want federal agents to provide more details in the early morning raid at the home of the former director of the Little Rock airport that left the man dead.
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary has asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for details of a search warrant being served on a Little Rock home resulting in the death of homeowner Bryan Malinowski. A Monday letter signed by committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach asks for yet-to-be-released details of the March 19 event.
The letter asks for details about body cameras, so-called “no knock” warrants and the raid taking place at the same time ATF was tightening requirements on licensing requirements for people who sell guns.
In asking for information on body cameras not being worn, the letter states that not wearing cameras violates Department of Justice protocols and a presidential executive order.
This congressional request follows a Friday joint statement from Arkansas Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman that they had received confirmation from the Department of Justice that body cameras were not worn by the ATF agents serving the Malinowski search warrant.
An ATF spokesperson would not comment on body cameras, citing the ongoing investigation.
The letter continues to ask if agents complied with department policy on no-knock warrants. It also asks for the number of no-knock warrants since a September 2021 policy limiting the warrants by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Monaco.
Attorney for the Malinowski family Bud Cummins said the front door to the home was forced, but technically not by a no-knock warrant.
“The method of execution was to apparently bang on the door and immediately force it and enter the home in 30 seconds or less, not giving the occupants reasonable time by any standard to understand what was happening, who was making it happen, and much less to identify the door bangers as law enforcement and then admit them voluntarily as the law requires,” Cummins said. “So, what’s the difference between a ‘no-knock’ warrant and this ‘tap and go’ procedure? It is a distinction without a difference, in my opinion.”
Attorney speaks on gun show loophole explained as cause for ATF raid on home of Bryan Malinowski
In bringing up the change is ATF policy on licensing for firearm deals, Jordan states in the letter that Malinowski was not breaking the law.
“Mr. Malinowski exercised his Second Amendment rights and was a firearms enthusiast,” the letter states. “Even if, as ATF has alleged, Mr. Malinowski violated federal law, it does not justify ATF’s actions that ultimately lead to the use of deadly force.”
Family of Bryan Malinowski releases statement after his death
The Arkansas State Police confirmed Friday that it is investigating the officer-involved shooting aspect of Malinowski’s death.
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