FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate stated on Monday that the bureau has been tirelessly working on the investigation.
Former President Donald Trump has agreed to participate in a victim interview with the FBI concerning an attempted assassination on his life, a bureau official announced on Monday.
The official stated that the interview with Trump would follow the same protocols as any other crime victim interview conducted by the bureau.
Also Read:- Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s Son Arrested in Texas
Trump confirmed the meeting on Monday evening, stating in a Fox News interview, “They’re coming in on Thursday to see me.”
The FBI’s investigation identified the attempted assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, as an “intelligent” individual who was “a loner” with limited social connections outside his family and an increasing interest in weapons.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown. The FBI has conducted numerous interviews and sought information about Crooks’ online activities, including his gaming accounts, from multiple companies. His search history included information on the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, mass shootings, and power plants. A week before the attack, Crooks searched, “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” referencing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Despite purchasing a ladder before the shooting, the FBI found no evidence that Crooks brought it to the Trump rally. A bloodied receipt for the ladder was found on his body. Crooks reportedly used a drone before the attack, but no footage was recovered from it.
Also Read:- Missing Monterey Park Teen Alison Chao Found Safe After Week-Long Search
During the incident, Crooks fired eight rounds 25 to 30 seconds after a local police officer attempted to confront him on a rooftop. According to NBC News, citing FBI and law enforcement sources, the officer was hoisted above the roofline by a colleague when Crooks aimed his weapon at him and fired.
The FBI reported that Crooks meticulously planned the attack and kept his preparations secret, according to an official briefing reporters more than two weeks after the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate stated on Monday that the bureau has been tirelessly working on the investigation. While the FBI typically does not provide regular updates on ongoing investigations, Abbate said they felt it was necessary in this case to keep the public informed.
Following the attack, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, and after a contentious House hearing on the incident, the Senate is scheduled to hold its own hearing with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security this week.
Abbate emphasized that the FBI was focused on uncovering the facts of the case rather than identifying law enforcement failures, suggesting that such analysis should be conducted by others.
Also Read:- President Joe Biden Ends Re-Election Bid, Endorses Kamala Harris for 2024
“The FBI is fully committed to uncovering the truth about this attack on former President Trump, the murder of Mr. Comperatore, and the injuries to others,” Abbate stated, referring to Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee who was killed, and two others who were wounded.
FBI Director Christopher Wray informed Congress last week that there was still some uncertainty regarding whether Trump was hit by a bullet or shrapnel during the assassination attempt, contributing to conspiracy theories about the incident.
FBI Agent Kevin Rojek, head of the Pittsburgh office, confirmed on Monday that Trump was indeed struck by a bullet, whether whole or fragmented, aligning with a statement the bureau released after Wray’s testimony.
Rojek also noted that Crooks had taken significant measures to hide his activities and that there was no evidence of him receiving mental health treatment or institutionalization.
The FBI has faced challenges accessing some of Crooks’ accounts due to his use of encrypted apps, as noted by FBI official Bobby Wells.
Also Read:- Former First Lady Melania Trump Appeared at Republican National Convention
“Encryption has been a challenge for us in this investigation,” Wells said.