By DON THOMPSON | The Related Press
SACRAMENTO — A former Division of Homeland Safety official’s dying two years in the past that generated right-wing conspiracy theories was dominated a suicide Wednesday by a Northern California sheriff-coroner.
Proof discovered in the course of the investigation into Philip Haney’s dying has now spurred a brand new investigation into how he obtained “contraband” paperwork.
Haney, 66, was discovered lifeless with a single gunshot wound Feb. 21, 2020, in a park-and-ride lot alongside a busy state freeway in a rural space of Amador County, east of Sacramento. He was a former DHS nationwide safety official for 15 years and self-described whistleblower vital of President Barack Obama’s administration.
Haney’s dying was controversial sufficient for the Amador County Sheriff’s Workplace to herald FBI crime scene investigators and different analysts to help.
Investigators discovered that Haney left a suicide notice with a signature that a forensic evaluation decided was in his handwriting. The gun used was traced to him.
He additionally left behind neatly organized monetary paperwork with directions on how he wished his property distributed, in line with investigators. And Haney gave away his potted vegetation the day earlier than he was discovered lifeless.
“After a radical assessment of the proof collected and processed by the Sheriff’s Workplace and FBI, the Sheriff’s Workplace has decided the way of Mr. Haney’s dying to be suicide,” the assertion from Sheriff Gary Redman’s workplace stated. “This case has been categorised as closed.”
Haney printed a e-book in 2016 titled “See One thing, Say Nothing: A Homeland Safety Officer Exposes the Authorities’s Submission to Jihad,” which alleged inaction towards terrorism by the Obama administration.
He testified earlier than a Senate Judiciary subcommittee and appeared on Fox Information’ “The Sean Hannity Present” the yr his e-book was printed. His dying spurred conspiracy speeches by Republican Iowa U.S. Rep. Steve King and one other GOP congressman on the Home ground.
“He was a goal due to all he knew of Islamic terrorist coverups,” King tweeted on the time. “Phil Haney didn’t kill himself.”
After Haney’s dying, the FBI’s evaluation of quite a few thumb drives and a private laptop computer in Haney’s motorhome decided that “many paperwork discovered are the property of the U.S. Customs and Border Safety,” in line with the sheriff’s detailed account of the dying investigation.
That federal company’s Workplace of Skilled Accountability requested to take possession of what it known as “contraband” paperwork.
The sheriff’s workplace stated it turned over Haney’s laptop computer and three thumb drives a month in the past “for his or her investigation into violations of CBP coverage and quite a few United States Codes.”
Customs and Border Safety spokesman Jaime Ruiz stated he couldn’t remark “as a result of it’s an open investigation.”
“We'd have additional particulars because the investigation progresses, however for now we will’t say something,” Ruiz added.
An FBI spokeswoman, Gina Swankie, stated her company assisted the sheriff’s workplace with evaluation, nevertheless it was not an FBI investigation. She declined to remark, deferring to the sheriff’s workplace.
The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety didn't instantly remark Wednesday.
The sheriff’s workplace outlined quite a few causes it concluded that Haney killed himself lower than three miles (4.8 kilometers) from the place he was residing in a motorhome.
Investigators discovered his automobile parked subsequent to his physique, with the suicide notice on the dashboard that the FBI evaluation discovered had been signed by Haney. He appeared to have fallen out of a folding chair after capturing himself, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
An post-mortem discovered no different “suspicious trauma” nor any pre-death accidents suggesting that he’d been “concerned in any sort of altercation,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the unregistered handgun to the final registered proprietor, who lived in Georgia. He advised investigators he was a pal of Haney’s and had offered Haney the weapon about 5 years earlier.
Haney’s motorhome in an RV park was “clear and properly organized,” the sheriff’s workplace stated. Private and monetary paperwork “was organized neatly on the kitchen countertop, some containing directions for a way Mr. Haney wished his property disbursed,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
A neighbor advised investigators that Haney “appeared depressed currently” and had given the neighbor his potted vegetation the day earlier than his dying.