House Intelligence Committee Exposes Failures in FBI’s 2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting Investigation

On May 6, 2025, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a landmark report that critically assessed the FBI’s investigation into the 2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting. The Committee’s findings raised significant concerns regarding the agency’s investigative procedures, urging FBI leadership to reassess its approach to cases involving potential domestic terrorism.

Inadequate Investigative Procedures

One of the most alarming revelations in the report highlights how the FBI neglected to conduct substantive interviews with victims and eyewitnesses following the shooting incident. Such omissions fall short of standard investigative protocols and point to a concerning lack of diligence on the part of the agency tasked with safeguarding national security. The report indicates that the investigative team failed to pursue essential testimonies that could have shed light on the motives and premeditation behind the attack, which is profoundly troubling given the stakes involved.

Flawed Intelligence Analysis and Biased Conclusions

The House Intelligence Committee also scrutinized the FBI’s analytical approach to the evidence available during the investigation. The report notes that the Bureau’s analysis was not only flawed but appeared to support a narrative suggesting that the shooter, James Hodgkinson, died by “suicide by cop.” This conclusion, however, runs counter to substantial evidence indicating that the shooting was a premeditated act driven by Hodgkinson’s anti-Republican sentiments. A manifesto found amongst his belongings, along with a targeted list of Republican lawmakers, suggests that this was neither a spontaneous event nor a simple case of suicide—rather a calculated attack driven by his political grievances.

Domestic Terrorism: Underreported and Downplayed

Another critical finding from the report is the FBI’s initial disregard for the potential link between the shooting and domestic terrorism. The shooter’s motivations and actions, such as the manifesto and the extended firefight that unfolded at Eugene Simpson Field in Alexandria, Virginia, underscore the necessity to classify this case within the broader context of domestic terrorism. Although the FBI revised its stance in May 2021 to acknowledge a possible connection, the investigation remained incomplete and inadequate, with critical insights left unexplored.

Call for Accountability and Oversight

Prominent figures, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who survived the attack, voiced widespread concern regarding the FBI’s failures throughout this investigation. The Committee recognized FBI Director Christopher Wray for his eventual cooperation in providing documents to Congress, yet the report illustrates a profound lapse in oversight and integrity. The extensive periods of stonewalling before document release significantly hindered the ability to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and the true motivations behind Hodgkinson’s actions.

In summary, the House Intelligence Committee’s findings detail a troubling portrait of an investigation marred by bias and neglect. The FBI’s handling of the 2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting has raised questions about its capacity to effectively address domestic terrorism, thereby prompting demands for greater accountability within the Bureau. As the implications of this report reverberate across national security discussions, it is clear that thorough and unbiased investigative practices are paramount to prevent similar oversights in the future.