Former US President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation into the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. FBI agent Kevin Rojek, head of the Pittsburgh field office, emphasized that this interview is consistent with the FBI’s standard protocol for victims of federal crimes and aims to gather Trump’s firsthand account of the incident.New details have emerged about the moments leading up to the attack and the identification of the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. A local police officer reportedly photographed Crooks carrying a backpack approximately 20-30 minutes before the shooting and shared the image with other law enforcement agencies. Surveillance footage from a police car camera also captured Crooks walking on a roof with a gun.The FBI’s investigation has revealed that Crooks, described as ‘highly intelligent’ but socially isolated, had conducted extensive online research related to mass shootings, power plants, and improvised explosive devices. He reportedly used foreign-based encrypted email apps and made online searches for several national officials, including President Joe Biden and other former presidents.Despite conducting around 450 interviews and analyzing thousands of tips, the FBI has yet to uncover a clear motive for the shooting. The agency believes the attack was the result of careful planning, with Crooks using aliases to purchase firearms and chemical precursors for explosive devices online.Trump was reportedly struck in the ear by a bullet or fragment during the incident, which also resulted in the death of a former firefighter, Corey Comperatore, and injuries to two others. The Secret Service killed Crooks at the scene.As the investigation continues, both law enforcement and the public await further insights that may emerge from Trump’s upcoming interview with the FBI. The agency has stated it is not investigating whether Secret Service personnel or other law enforcement acted appropriately, leaving such analysis to other agencies.
Key points
- Former President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI regarding the July 13 assassination attempt.
- New details reveal the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was identified by local law enforcement shortly before the attack.
- The FBI has uncovered evidence of Crooks’ extensive online research into mass shootings and explosive devices.
- Despite numerous interviews, the FBI has not yet determined a clear motive for the shooting.
Contradictions👾While most sources state that Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet or fragment, one source mentions that the FBI confirmed Trump was hit by a ‘whole bullet or fragmented into small pieces’, which could imply some uncertainty about the exact nature of Trump’s injury.
