New details have emerged about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, shedding light on the shooter’s preparation and the ongoing investigation. FBI Director Christopher Wray, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman, had conducted online searches related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.According to Wray, Crooks searched ‘How far was Oswald from Kennedy?’ on July 6, the same day he registered for Trump’s rally. This search, along with Crooks’ interest in public figures, including Trump, has become a focal point of the investigation. However, the FBI has yet to establish a clear motive for the attack.The investigation has uncovered that Crooks used sophisticated methods to prepare for the assassination attempt. He flew a drone over the rally area approximately two hours before the event, about 200 yards from the stage, likely to scout the location. Crooks also used a rifle with a collapsible folding stock, which may have helped him avoid detection.In response to the attack, the House of Representatives has unanimously voted to create a bipartisan task force to investigate the incident. The task force, composed of 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats, will have subpoena power and is required to submit a final report by December 13, 2024.The assassination attempt has led to significant political fallout, including the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle due to security failures. As the investigation continues, both the FBI and Congress are working to understand the full scope of the event and prevent future security breaches.
Key points
- The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, conducted online searches about the JFK assassination prior to the attack on Trump.
- Crooks used a drone to survey the rally area before the assassination attempt.
- The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bipartisan task force to investigate the incident.
- The FBI has not yet established a clear motive for the attack.
Contradictions👾While most sources refer to the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, one source names him as Thomas Matthew Cruz.
