Top Republican demands ATF explain details of botched fatal home raid of Bill and Hillary Clinton airport boss

Rep. Jim Jordan is demanding information related to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' (ATF) fatal raid on the home of airport executive Brian Malinowski. 

Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a letter that Malinowski's death coupled with the ATF's new recent rulemaking 'raises serious questions about the weaponization of the agency.' 

On March 19th the ATF showed up at Malinowski's home with 10 vehicles to execute a search warrant when they believed he was illegally selling firearms. 

Bryan Malinowski, 53, who ran the Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport, died two days after the confrontation with ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock.

The search warrant revealed Malinowski was suspected of trading more than 150 firearms between May 2021 and February of this year.

Jordan requested a copy of the warrant, all recordings from the execution of it and all communications related to the lack of body camera footage from the incident from the ATF by May 6. 

Ring camera image from Malinowski's home on night of raid 

Bud Cummins, an attorney for Malinowski's estate, released multiple clips from the Chenal Valley neighborhood the night of the raid, which the attorney claims took place while his client and wife Maer were sleeping and adds that it's not clear agents properly identified themselves.

Jordan's letter noted the officers serving the warrant were not wearing body cameras, a violation of DOJ policy. 

Both videos show the ATF agents cocking their rifles while dressed in full tactical equipment outside Malinowski's home. 

One agent was injured during the shooting, and according to ATF, Malinowski was the one who initially opened fire on the agents. 

Cummins claimed there is no evidence to suggest agents knocked on the door and announced their presence before gunfire ensued and that Malinowski shot at the agents at their feet, while they returned fire, shooting him in the head. 

Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a letter that Malinowski's death coupled with the ATF's new recent rulemaking 'raises serious questions about the weaponization of the agency

ATF rules require agents to knock and announce their presence before entering a home with a warrant except when the agent 'has reasonable grounds to believe at the time the warrant is sought that knocking and announcing the agent’s presence would create an imminent threat of physical violence to the agent and/or another person.'

The raid came at the same time the ATF instituted a new rule to close a loophole and require dealers to run background checks on buyers at gun shows and other places outside of brick-and-mortar stores. 

Such dealers would be required to get licensing and be subject to up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000 if they break they sell guns without a license or do not run background checks in such circumstances. 

Bryan Malinowski died on Thursday after was shot by ATF agents at his home in west Little Rock on Tuesday

Malinowski is seen here on the right alongside Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, during a visit to Clinton National Airport last March

Malinowski joined Clinton National in 2008 as director of properties, planning and development before being promoted to deputy director in 2009

Malinowski was suspected of trading more than 150 firearms between May 2021 and February of this year, six of which were later used in crimes, and one of which ended up with a 15-year-old gang member in California.

'Even if the allegations in the affidavit are true, they don’t begin to justify what happened,' his family said in the statement after the shooting. 

'At worst, Bryan Malinowski, a gun owner and gun enthusiast, stood accused of making private firearm sales to a person who may not have been legally entitled to purchase the guns.'

The investigation began in November 2023 when authorities in Canada were tipped off by an informer about guns coming unlawfully into circulation.

Malinowski would allegedly buy the guns legally online, declaring they were for personal use, and acknowledging that the 'repetitive purchase of firearms' for onward sale is illegal without a license.

But he was seen selling them at gun shows without asking for any ID or paperwork, telling one undercover agent that none was needed for private sales.

The ATF said that someone inside Malinowski's home opened fire when they arrived on Tuesday and that in the ensuing shootout, Malinowski reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the head.