Both senators from Arkansas are demanding answers from the Justice Department over federal law enforcement’s execution of a search warrant that ended in the shooting death of an airport executive last month.
Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman want answers in the death of Brian Malinowski, executive director of Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.
Mr. Malinowski was shot and killed on March 19 when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tried to serve a search warrant at his home.
Malinowski, 53, was wounded in a shootout with agents and died several days later, ATF said.
“Last night, the Department of Justice confirmed that the ATF officers involved in executing the search warrant on Brian Malinowski’s home were not wearing body cameras,” Cotton and Boozman said in a joint statement. Ta. “We continue to call on the department to explain how these unique policy violations occurred and to clarify the full circumstances of this tragedy.”
“Mr. Malinowski’s family and the public deserve a full accounting of the facts,” the Republicans added.
Bud Cummins, an attorney for the Malinowski family, noted that the ATF adopted a policy in 2022 requiring the use of body cameras when executing search warrants.
“This policy provides parameters for the use of BWC [body-worn cameras] by TFO [task force officers] “To the extent that state or local law enforcement agencies require their personnel to use it during federal task force operations,” the June 2, 2022 Department of Justice memo states.
Cummins said the policy was created in response to the shooting of Breonna Taylor, a paramedic in Louisville, Kentucky, who died while police officers tried to execute a search warrant.
“It’s amazing that the ATF would now claim that they simply ignored this clear policy. It clearly raises more questions than it answers,” Cummins told FOX News Digital.
Malinowski allegedly opened fire as investigators were attempting to execute a warrant in the early morning hours.
An agent was shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Malinowski was shot in the head in return fire and died two days later.
“As is normal practice, this matter is under review by state and local governments in Arkansas,” ATF spokeswoman Christina Mastropasqua told FOX News Digital. “The Department of Justice does not comment on pending matters.”
Authorities said Malinowski was being investigated on suspicion of selling unlicensed firearms, some of which were used in crimes.
Malinowski allegedly purchased more than 150 guns between May 2021 and February 27, 2024, and then resold them.
clinton national airport
Malinowski allegedly purchased the firearm legally and checked a box on the purchase form indicating the firearm was his. However, he allegedly resold weapons at gun shows as a vendor.
“In the worst case scenario, Brian Malinowski, a gun owner and enthusiast, was accused of privately selling a firearm to a person who did not have the legal right to purchase it,” Malinowski said. The announcement was made a few days after his death.
