Lawyer representing man killed by ATF says raid might have occurred to support new Biden regulation

Arkansas Attorney Bud Cummins, who is representing the family of Bryan Malinowski who was killed by ATF agents in a raid, suggested Tuesday that the raid might have occurred to support a new gun regulation from President Joe Biden.

“As bad as that story I just told is, it’s even worse if it’s politically motivated,” Cummins said on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show. “The gun show loophole, that’s what gun control people call it, is the right of hobbyists and collectors to sell their firearms at gun shows without licenses.”

“President Biden was about to roll out, and did roll out, in April, his new regulation where he took credit for personally closing the gun show loophole,” he added. “It appears that this raid might have been coordinated to support that announcement.”

Malinowski was the local administrator of an airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. Earlier this year, federal agents showed up to execute a search warrant in his home, leading to a standoff which resulted in Malinowski being killed.

Federal investigators alleged Malinowski violated federal gun laws by operating as a firearm seller without the proper licensing, a Federal Firearms License, or FFL.

Cummins argued the use of deadly force was likely unjustified given the circumstances.

“As part of his hobby of collecting, buying, and selling various items Bryan occasionally set up a table at local gun shows where he mainly displayed guns and coins. In Arkansas a private seller may legally sell a firearm without holding a federal firearm license (FFL) and without filling out forms or conducting background checks,” Cummins said in a statement at the time.

The ATF has not responded to requests for comment at this time, but noted last month that there is still an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Bud Cummins is expected to testify before Congress on May 22 before the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government about the incident with Malinowski.