While no one doubts the Task Force’s desire to get to the bottom of the assassination attempt, what the American people must understand is that the goal of the Task Force is to “identify solutions that will prevent security failures from recurring in the future,” NOT to get to the bottom of who committed the crime and why. Knowing the role of the Task force helps the American people to understand why the members seemed so inept during the “preliminary” hearing.
The best way to understand the Task Force’s missed opportunities comes pretty much from the beginning of the hearing when the Allegheny County Medical Examiner, (ME) Dr. Ariel Goldschmidt, testified via Zoom. According to Goldschmidt his staff made arrangements “later that night” (July 13th) “to transport the bodies of Thomas Crooks and victim Corey Comperatore to our office.”
Did any of the Task Force members ask the ME if he knew the identity of the alleged deceased shooter that evening when arrangements were being made? No. Did anyone on the Task Force inquire as to when the ME became aware of the identity of the alleged shooter? No.
Of interest is that in his testimony the ME made a point of explaining that the “required chain of custody” paperwork began after the body arrived at the ME’s office. Of course, it’s difficult to dismiss the unnatural and suspicious situation that occurred at the AGR building with the chain of custody of the body prior to the Butler County Coroner’s identification of the deceased.
Remember that William F. Young III, the Butler County Coroner, went to the AGR building around midnight on July 14th and was rebuffed and told to come back the next morning. Young and “another deputy” returned to the AGR building around 6:00a.m. on the 14th to identify the alleged shooter.
Did the Task Force ask the ME why the body of the alleged shooter laid on the AGR roof all night? No. Did the Task Force ask the ME what method was used by the Butler County Coroner to identify the alleged shooter? No. Did the Task Force ask the ME what law enforcement agencies had control of the AGR building throughout the evening of July 13-14? No. Lost opportunities.
The ME then explained in his testimony that “prior to the autopsy, the body was X-rayed, major handprints were obtained by the FBI Major Incident Program Manager, Brian Johnson.” Did the Task Force members ask the ME when and where the FBI conducted the X-rays? No. How about what was found in the X-rays? No. Did the Task Force members ask the ME where the handprints were taken by the FBI? No. Did the Task Force ask the ME if the FBI’s handling of the alleged shooter’s body prior to autopsy compromised the chain of custody? No.
Goldschmidt then testified that he “had no reports from or involvement in the investigation into Mr. Crooks’ motives and actions, crime scene evidence or other outside evidence…” Really? What did the Task Force members have to say about that? Nothing.
Did the Task Force members ask why the Butler County Coroner had not provided the ME with investigative notes and photographs that must have been taken by the coroner while making identification on the roof of the AGR Building at 6:00a.m. July 14th. No. Did the Task Force members ask the ME why he wasn’t provided any investigative information that may help him in his autopsy? No. Did the Task Force members question the ME as to why standard procedure of receiving investigative information from the coroner wasn’t followed? No.
