FBI Director Testifies on Security Lapses in Trump Assassination Attempt
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on July 24, 2024, regarding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. This hearing, the third in a series, shed new light on the events and security lapses that allowed the attack to occur.
Wray’s testimony highlighted that the shooter, 20 year old nuring home employee Thomas Crooks, had shown a disturbing interest in past political assassinations, including conducting a Google search on “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” shortly before the attempt on Trump’s life.
Crooks, who fired from a rooftop approximately 150 yards from the stage, used a DPMS Panther Arms AR-15 style rifle to shoot Trump and other attendees, resulting in one fatality and three injuries, including Trump himself.
The FBI‘s investigation has not yet determined Crooks’ motive, but it has been established that he acted alone, with no evidence of accomplices or co-conspirators. Wray emphasized that Crooks was not previously on the FBI’s radar, and a search of his home uncovered 14 firearms. The gunman’s family is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Details Emerge on Shooter’s Preparations and Secret Service Failures
Security failures were a significant focus during the hearing. Whistleblowers revealed that the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) faced staffing shortages due to concurrent events, such as the NATO summit and an event attended by First Lady Jill Biden, which compromised the thoroughness of security planning for Trump’s rally.
The shooter was spotted as a suspicious individual 62 minutes before opening fire, and Secret Service snipers had him in their sights 20 minutes before the attack, raising questions about why Trump remained on stage despite the identified threat. Also, if Secret Service snipers indeed had Crooks in their sights a full 20 minutes before he began firing, why did they not take him out once they saw that he had a firearm and posed an immediate threat to the life of the former President of the United States?
Additionally, it was disclosed that Crooks had used a drone to scout the rally site two hours before the shooting, further demonstrating his premeditated approach. The drone was later recovered from Crook’s vehicle. Wray also noted that three of what he referred to as “relatively crude” explosive devices were recovered by law enforcement after the shooting. Two were found in Crook’s car and one at his residence. A transmitter was found near Crook’s body on the roof of the AGR building, but receivers on the explosive devices were turned off.
Items found on the roof near Crook’s body. Image Credit: WPXI News
Also found on the roof near Crook’s body were eight spent 5.56 shell casings.
The Secret Service’s handling of the incident has come under intense scrutiny, leading to the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle shortly after her testimony before Congress.
Former President Trump was injured but managed to survive the assassination attempt, partially due to a last-second head movement that likely saved his life. He was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Trump made a public appearance just two days later at the Republican National Convention, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to his campaign. Since the shooting, he has not held any campaign rallies outdoors, and it is not clear whether he will do so or not.
The investigation into the security failures and the broader implications of this attack on political violence in the United States is ongoing. President Joe Biden has called for an independent review of the security arrangements and emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of political differences. As the FBI continues its work, further details and corrective measures are anticipated to prevent such incidents in the future.
This is a developing story. Be sure to return to SOFREP often for the latest facts.
—
Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
