FBI admits it failed to investigate tip-off against Florida shooter

The revelation that the FBI botched a potentially life-saving tip on the Florida school shooting suspect is a devastating blow to Americas top law enforcement agency at a time when it is already under extraordinary political pressure.

Even before the startling disclosure that the FBI failed to investigate a warning that the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, could be plotting an attack, the bureau was facing unprecedented criticism from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, who have accused it of partisan bias. The agency and its supporters had been able to dismiss past criticism as just politics, but this time it had no option but to admit it made a disastrous mistake.

Christopher Wray

The FBI's acknowledgment that it mishandled the tip prompted a sharp rebuke from its boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and a call from Floridas Republican Gov Rick Scott, a Trump ally, for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign. Wray, on the job for just six months, had already been in a precarious position defending the bureau from relentless attacks by Trump and other Republicans.

Yesterday, the bureau said it had failed to act on a tip that Cruz had a "desire to kill people," disturbing social media posts and access to a gun.

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