Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has serious questions for ATF officials about their botched March 19 SWAT team raid, which killed Little Rock Airport executive director, Bryan Malinowski, in his home. And if ATF has bodycam footage of the fatal raid, Griffin wants to see that, too.
“As someone who couldn’t be a bigger law enforcement supporter, when our government acts in a particular way that raises questions, we have an obligation to say something. My understanding, having looked at the ATF rules is that they generally require a bodycam when there’s a preplanned raid, right? Why? Well, because information from a camera helps fill the vacuum of conspiracy and all this other stuff. So, record it with a bodycam that’s required and then there’s policy that it shall be released as soon as possible,” Griffin said during an interview with local media Sunday.
The Attorney General acknowledged that journalists, attorneys and citizens have raised significant questions about the raid and ATF’s choice of tactics – questions the ATF has yet to answer.
“Look, this is bizarre that there’s just been silence. I understand there’s a state investigation going on with it, but there’s nothing about this footage that should stop it from being released,” he said.
ATF has yet to comment officially on the March 19 killing other than to claim Malinowski fired first. But Malinowski’s family recently said in a statement that the 53-year-old airport executive likely did not know he was trading gunfire with federal agents. It is far more likely he believed he was defending himself and his wife from armed home invaders.
A yet-unidentified ATF agent shot Malinowski in the head with a carbine at least once. Malinowski lingered for two days before dying of his wounds.
A story published last week chronicled a host of less-lethal tactics ATF could have used during the raid – any one of which would have spared Malinowski’s life.
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating Malinowski’s killing. Once their investigation is complete, state prosecutors, not federal, will determine whether any ATF agent should face criminal charges.
This is not the first time ATF’s use of excessive force has drawn the ire of state law enforcement officials. Last year, after an ATF SWAT team raided one of his constituents, Oklahoma State Representative Justin “JJ” Humphrey demanded a grand jury and presented a probable cause affidavit to the Oklahoma Attorney General, which outlined the crimes and civil rights violations Humphrey believed ATF agents committed when they sent a 12-man SWAT team to the Tuskahoma, Oklahoma home of Russell Fincher, a federal firearm licensee who also teaches high school and serves as a Baptist pastor.
Pro-gun AG
Griffin was sworn in as Arkansas Attorney General on January 10, 2023, after serving as lieutenant governor and in Congress. He is a colonel in the Army Reserve, where he serves in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
While in Congress, Griffin sponsored pro-gun legislation and was endorsed by pro-gun groups. During Sunday’s interview with local media, he announced he has joined a lawsuit led by other Republican attorneys general who are suing the Biden-Harris administration over their new rule to expand background check requirements for private gun sales.
“I think it’s a bad idea in this particular case, the way they’re doing it,” Griffin said. “This is not within the Biden Administration’s unilateral power to act. We’ve seen it with student loans, we’ve seen it with the gun laws. We’ve seen it with all these different environmental wrecks when they don’t get what they want through Congress, which I understand it’s not a friendly Congress to a lot of their views.”
Neither Griffin nor Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to calls or emails seeking their comments for this story.
This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
No knock warrants need to STOP!
That’s my point about getting the news of what happened and footage if available so we have something to stand on and protest at the ATF agencies and the white house.
We are WAY BEYOND protesting.
Warrants in general need to be much more difficult to convince a judge to sign off on; search warrants, clearly. It should take a act of God and Congress before seeking a judge’s signature.
Give every single AmericanTyranny/Federal officer the same treatment and the same chance they gave to the victim they deliberately executed.
Speaking of firearm seizure raids, it’s April 19.
Happy Patriots Day!
This is the most important date in American History.
The Revolutionary War “went hot” on April 19, 1775.
It took our “leadership” another year and four months to figure out that they had a war on their hands. Some thing never change.
Yes. Yes, celebrate and contemplate. Yes it is. Yes it did. No, they don’t.
Haha. What he said. 😉
WOW! My Android phone tells me every little LGBTQ, Black history day/month, women’s day, Cinco de mayo and everything else day including tax day but doesn’t say squat about this.
The true history of America’s beginning that changed America forever but they don’t bother to list it on my calendar, but they make sure all the woke shit is never missed.
I have to refrain from what I want to say now. Thanks for mentioning it, I would have missed it if you didn’t!
music … I believe this is also anniversary of the day mc vey blew up the fbi building
LOL, you know they wouldn’t put that on our phones.
So, you appreciate the bombs planted inside the building that were found later due to misfires? I condemn the actions of the man who MURDERED MANY INNOCENT People inside of the building. It makes me wonder how a “HEAVY PLANE with BIG WINGS and BIG ENGINES” can hit the “pentagon building” and only leave ONE HOLE!!
Here’s the answer, and they gave it away in the Jack Ryan film with Harrison Ford. They used a Cellulose cased cruise missile! Such things do indeed exist!
No that was the day someone else blew up the Murrah Building in OK city. There is no way a fertilizer bomb did that. Oklahoma City Bomb Report
No mention of it on whitehouse.gov. In the whitehouse briefing a short while ago The Binder talked about today being the anniversary of Columbine, all the gun control implemented so far in this administration and how many more unconstitutional laws and regulations they wish to inflict upon us.
Apparently Boston celebrates on a Monday, maybe just to tie it in better with the marathon. Or maybe they just don’t think it important enough to celebrate on the actual day.
The same day they burned down the church in Waco. April 19th…hmmmm….
Those FBATFE murderers need to rot in prison. These are the raids they will continue to carry out until we the people stop them, strip them of their unconstitutional authority, and toss them out of government employment. They don’t deserve one red cent of tax dollars. Everyone will shoot, and shoot first when raided, as 1) no one, no one, has authority to break into your home, and 2) as criminals are KNOWN to yell “police, search warrant” during home invasions, damn skippy we will light them up. No knock warrants are bs, unlawful, and unnecessary unless it’s a hostage… Read more »
True story. We did not do ‘no knock’ raids in the third world when going after very bad people. It is completely inappropriate here where you can surround a block with MRAP vehicles, swat teams and snipers and then talk someone out. But these clowns are not professionals. Semper Fi
Small Penis ATF men. They are dangerous with a badge and gun.
surely you can’t expect them to release any findings from this pre-dawn, no-knock raid in which someone was murdered by government agents before everyone forgets about it, do you? if you got nothing to hide? isn’t that always what the 1% say to their suspects. shouldn’t it be the same for them? who signed off on this pre-dawn no-knock raid? did they “really” announce themselves? if so, prove it with the body camera(s). did he shoot first? ditto. why didn’t batfe release the man’s body for organ donations before it was too late, as per the family’s wishes? when will… Read more »
These rogue federal agencies have about 10 months of cover left by the Biden regime. My big ask of an incoming Trump Administration is to simply make all of the data available to the public. All of it. Any redactions must be court approved. Our national security is at stake not from foreign agents but from Domestic enemies. Root them out, name them, vilify them and prosecute them. The general public needs to see the evidence up front.
You’re right but it will never happen…politics, you know.
Until that is done, people will not trust the government ever again unless they are small minded democrats which is what our government wants us all to be.
Do not question why, just do it because we told you too! Sorry, I even questioned my mom and dad and our government is neither.
Oregoneistan
trust?????? government….only if I have them at business end of an full-auto with unlimited ammo
Didn’t you hear? Obidum is going to use F15’s, tactical nukes and drones against us. You need a bigger cannon than an AR or 50 cal. I did trust my government more when President Trump was in charge. Especially when I learned about the swamp and he brought them all out of the woodwork and showed that it is true. If Hitlary, shiff for brains, Pelosi for insider trading, Obidum for selling out our country and transporting criminals in as well as destruction of our economy, Holder and others were sentenced and jailed I would have much more faith that… Read more »
Which is why, on Patriots Day, you need your own Patriot Missile Battery. Wonder what kind of tax stamp ATF would want for that transfer.
If O’bidum is going to make it harder for Israel because they will not follow his dictate, I doubt we would ever be on a receiving list for that.
My Mother and Father taught all of us (4) to question authority figures. If directions are good, follow them. If directions are CONTRARY to COMMON-SENSE then argue!! Right now, MOST of the “directions” from the government are HORRENDOUS! Many of the current REGEM’S directions CONTRIDICT Our American Constitution!
I was taught at about 4 my phone number and my street address as well as you always respect the authorities and DO AS THEY SAY. My mom told me when I was older that my kindergarten teacher called and stated that I said to her, I don’t have to listen to you because you are not my mom or an authority! LOL Well it worked the first time. I have always listened to and followed what authorities have said in the few occasions I have had the opportunity too. Having a gun pointed at you because the car that… Read more »
Look up Dr. Fredrick Whitehurst.
He ran the fbi forensics lab.
He went public on how the fbi would tamper with evidence.
Oh, the morons in Congress did nothing.
Government, by and for the government and We the People can sit and rot for going in our own building and protesting a stolen election until they admit they are guilty.
It’s been years now without a trial. We the people are nothing in their eyes and minds but a feeding source for their wealth and power to control.
Oregoneistan
“The government is a greedy piglet that suckles on the taxpayers teats until they have sore, chapped nipples.” -Ron Swanson
There is a REASON they don’t listen to us.
So, is bitcoin a savior from one form of government tyranny or is it no more than a non-fungible token of a tulip bulb?
our country was built with gold and silver backing the dollar, it is being destroyed with hot air backing money …..back to gold and barter
Common law court.
WE NEED THEM BACK!
I wonder if there is any body cam footage? They blocked the door cam, why? Are they concerned that they might get busted like the Native American police force when they shot the person that was willfully surrendering with no weapon and only his in house cam proved that the officers were lying? I bet the ATF has the same policy as the Las Vegas Nevada police department when they do raids. They are instructed by their superior to turn them off! Do they need more time to edit what they have to remove the parts of the raid that… Read more »
They don’t carry body cams
That’s so you won’t see the bodies.
From the article. I only know about the ATF of what Ammoland has taught me and some FFL’s I talked to that told me what has been happening with them losing licenses.
My understanding, having looked at the ATF rules is that they generally require a bodycam when there’s a preplanned raid, right? Why? Well, because information from a camera helps fill the vacuum of conspiracy and all this other stuff. So, record it with a bodycam that’s required and then there’s policy that it shall be released as soon as possible,” Griffin said during an interview with local media Sunday.
ATF routinely tells FFL’s they must turn off internal and external security cameras during routine inspections. Point of fact.
Why does that sound illegal to me? So the ATF is beyond reproach? They are without an overseer to make sure they do not break laws?
Almost sound gestapo to me.
Hummmmmmm.
yhey dont want gun dealers to have proof atf is breaking laws
Technical malfunction(s).
so cameras are on when light is off, have a friend that has drawers rigged with flares waiting for a big fire……
We need some state level criminal prosecutions of rogue federal agencies for two reasons. First, the obvious, rogue federal agents need to be held accountable just like the rest of us. Law is law. For those of us who have worn the uniform it is especially important that the general public have confidence in our fidelity. Having served most of my career in Third World countries where the pubic did not have that level of confidence in their military and law enforcement agencies I can tell you you do not want to live in that world. Once you lose that… Read more »
problem is they are attacking people who believe in the oath they took, and the violations the commit are qualified immunity ….they need a rope and short drop
A number of issues. First is that these agencies exist due to the total misconstrued use of the commerce clause. For all intents they are standing armies in our midst in violation of the provisions for standing armies. The Militia HAD grand jury indictment capabilities which is one of the reasons they did away with them. Citizen grand juries could have been convened with TEETH if the militias were in existence. And the total violation of the 8th amendment against unreasonable bail, fines and cruel and unusual punishment. The conversion of a civil “crime” into a criminal one is another… Read more »
These types of raids, being either no-knock or quick-knock and bust the door down, have ended up with dead people. Whether it was the young woman in Louisville, or the couple in Houston, these deaths were unnecessary. The raid by the FBI on Roger Stone could have turned tragic easily. There was another raid by the FBI on a person that had been cleared of state charges involving a protest at an abortion clinic. The death of the young woman in Louisville generated a lot of outrage, rightly so. However, when federal agents kill someone in these types of raids,… Read more »
Amen brother, well said.
Did you see the footage of the Mar-a-lago raid showing a small Coast Guard craft with a couple M240B machine guns patrolling the shoreline?
A Grand Jury in Idaho indicted Lon Horiuchi for the death of Vicky Weaver. The Feds protected the POS and told the state to pound sand.
Want to read a story about Randy, click here.
CL, the last I heard that scum is living in Hawaii free as a bird. That son of a bitch murdered Vicki Weaver and that was proven beyond any doubt. His day will come!
ATF==== stands for BOND 007 a license to KILL without remorse !!!!!
Any place any time any where. It needs to stop !!!!!!!!
And psychopathic control freak parasites flock to the position. YEAH! I get to be trained to murder people over $200 fee!
Gov Sanders needs to rally the Arkansas Congressional Delegation behind this issue. If ATF and US D of J do not cough up the evidence the money gets cut off. It is down to that. Stop all appropriations bills for ATF until they comply.
What DAMNED the entire INTENDED INVASION was when the SS STORMTROOPER applied the tape upon the doorbell then proceeded with the UNANOUNCED ACTION to BUST IN THE DOMINCILE’S DOOR! EACH PERSON from the DIRECTOR of the ATF down to the CLEAN-UP CREW — MUST be held PERSONALLY LIABLE for the ASSASSINATION of Mr. Malinowski, an American Citizen — ON AMERICAN SOIL!!
Kinda late isn’t it, government had time to clean up the evidence.
How many no-knock raids have gone bad? too many by ALL agencies and departments. Why do even local police do warrant services at 05:30?
l guarantee you that they wiII either refuse, or the video fiIes wiII have been accidentaIIy erased.
The simple lesson here, and in many other cases, is that they simply could have shown up at his place of work in the afternoon and interviewed him there. If they had done so, he would still be alive and no one would have been injured. But no. They had to use a show of force to put the fear of God into the subject and all other firearm owners. The Canadian police did the same thing to a gunsmith not long ago – armed raid while he was in his shop with a customer while working on a handgun.… Read more »
I have stated before that Canada is the testing grounds for what will work against the people in America. Others got mad and said we are not Canada and I agree but what you just said shows that what they are getting away with there, is now being done here.
What a coincidence.
Apparently, there is a lack of courtesy or courage for not providing reasons for downvoting Musicman44mag’s comments.
🙂
Meh this is meaningless. He ain’t gonna do nothing
If that is so you need to form a local insurgency. If we cannot depend upon the many states to reign in rogue federal agents we are off to the races in a civil war. That is what the history of insurgency movements tells us. We are not immune from the laws of history.
it is headed to that and fast…I expect the next election will be the straw…….camel anyone?
Here’s the lesson they want us to learn: If they can’t run you to ground by taking your FFL, suing you into penury, shutting down your business, or confiscating your inventory, they are going to come to your house in the middle of the night and kill you. They are like Lily Tomlin’s telephone company quote, “We are the telephone company. We are omnipotent.”
Now if you really want to stop excess government violence and murder?
Introduce a bill in the lower house ( Assembly) of each state.
The Bill reads as follows : “The State recognizes the County Sheriff as the highest lawman in each county.
Any Federal Official wether elected or appointed must get the County Sheriff’s permission in writing in order to carry any type of firearm.”
This bill if passed will disarm every Federal Agent in every state.
The idea came from my late friend, Charlie Smith.
My two cents.
If the Attorney General of Arkansas is the real deal he should enpanel a GRAND JURY to investigate the mysterious deaths surrounding the CLINTON’S.
If he doesn’t he is just another bullshit politician.
State indictments against federal agents are typically “removed” to federal count, where the federal trial court applies state law, but are not held to state precedents. I have never even heard about a federal agent being convicted if the agent was acting under the supervision of his boss.
As a federal agency, the ATF has deliberately killed more innocent citizens than any other agency going, ie Idaho, Waco, now this gun fight at 6 in the morning in some innocent citizen’s home. Where did they get the idea it is okay to violate someone’s home just because they didn’t like what Malinowski was doing at local gun shows?????? All of the citizens they have killed in their bizarre manners of trying to arrest citizens have never been convicted of anything, let alone charged with a crime. All killings were based on “alleged” crimes. If the ATF was wanting… Read more »
As my favorite TV detective “Columbo” used to say, “One last thing”. For the murdering ATF to say, “Well, he fired first”, is what 6 year old kids say about throwing punches in playground fist-ta-cuffs, ie, Well, he hit me first. News flash, dumba**, he would not have been shooting at you if you were not invading his “castle.” That statement speaks volumes to the maturity level of these thugs. Evidently there are no adults at that particular field office. I hope the Attorney General of Arkansas brings murder charges against everyone involved. That is the only way this crap… Read more »
Let’s see what sense this makes. In today’s world of instant transparency we have the ATF. 30 days after the fact it is revealed that despite having a policy that says BWCs will be utilized when serving warrants, the ATF once again violated it’s own policies and no BWCs were utilized. I fully understand shootings being investigated by other agencies, but that is still no reason to hide evidence of malfeasance. I hate to say this but it looks like some ATF agents need a state trial.
Death penalty for all those involved in that murder raid.
It’s time for US citizens to start fighting back.
We are under siege by our tyrannical government and being overrun with terrorists at our borders.
Time to do something is upon us.
Trump 2024
MAGA is the militia.
FATF
FJB
FMayorkas
Surprise surprise…bet you no one was wearing a body cam. Or so they will claim.
Questions should be why BATFE turned off body cams or don’t carry them during a no-knock raid. BATFE should also be questioned as to why a less lethal course of action wasn’t employed to prevent casualties.
Obviously, RING cameras need a “Someone taped my lens….GET THE FUCK UP; MAN YOUR FIRING PORT….Alphabet Boys detected…..grenade drop tubes armed……alert the Neighborhood Fast Response Fields of Fire Tea”…..Malinowski endorsed feature. Sadly lacking…
“…botched March 19 SWAT team raid…” BOTCHED??? I’d say it went as planned, intended, sending a pre-release “you’ve been warned” message in preparation of the GO Time of the new “in the business” rule.
Where are the arrests, pending investigation? Were joe blow citizens to no-knock blow through a politician’s front door, trading gun fire, shooting him in the head….they would already be in chains….pending investigation. There has been gun fire, injuries/body in mortuary. Let’s hear names, arrest details, see mug shots, watch perp walks. If found spotless, we can cheer their release.