FBI releases long-awaited documents on congressional baseball shooting
- In June 2017, during a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, a gunman shot several people, including Rep. Steve Scalise.
- The attack was carried out by James Hodgkinson, who was killed during a shootout.
- The FBI has recently released previously withheld documents about the incident, leading to discussions on political violence.
In June 2017, a gunman opened fire during a practice session for the annual charity Congressional Baseball Game in the United States, injuring several individuals, including Representative Steve Scalise. The attack, attributed to 66-year-old James Hodgkinson, culminated in a shootout that resulted in the gunman's death. Scalise, who faced a lengthy recovery, returned to Congress in September 2017 to overwhelming support from his peers. Recent demands for transparency led to the House Intelligence Committee requesting the FBI's complete report on the shooting, which had been withheld for years. In March 2025, the FBI fulfilled this request, sparking a renewed discussion about violence in politics and the impact of divisive rhetoric on public safety. Lawmaker Rick Crawford emphasized the importance of transparency and oversight in the FBI's response, contrasting current leadership's swift action with previous inaction that lasted nearly eight years. This incident has influenced political discourse regarding public safety and the behavior of elected officials.