The FBI announced that former President Donald Trump agreed to sit for an FBI interview in the FBI investigation into the failed assassination attempt that could have taken his life in July.
Standard Protocol for Victim Interviews
This forthcoming interview is standard protocol for the FBI better to understand the victims’ perspective in a shooting.
Gunman’s Research on Mass Attacks
The FBI special agent also disclosed that the gunman had researched mass attacks, firearms, and explosive devices.
DOJ Addresses Conspiracy Theories
The Department of Justice also laid to rest conspiracy theorist speculation that Trump was not shot in the ear, saying definitively that Trump was struck either by a bullet or a bullet fragment in the ear on July 13 at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Special Agent’s Statement
Kevin Rojek, the special agent managing the investigation through the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said, “It is a standard victim interview like we would do for any other victim of crime under any other circumstance.”
Trump’s Announcement
Trump announced in a Fox News segment that the interview was set to take place Thursday.
FBI Interviews
Thus far, the FBI has reported interviewing more than 450 individuals in its quest to understand the circumstances of the shooting.
Profile of the Shooter
According to the FBI, the deceased shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was “brilliant” and reclusive. He didn’t have many friends or acquaintances, even on the online forums he participated in.
Cooperation from Crooks’s Parents
Rojek said Crooks’s parents have been “extremely cooperative” with the FBI investigation. They were unaware of their son’s plans to assassinate Trump.
Motive and Planning
The FBI has yet to discover what motivated Crooks to shoot Trump, although they have uncovered evidence that Crooks had been planning the action for a while.
Purchase of Explosive Materials
Crooks purchased items needed to make explosive devices but used an alias in the purchase to avoid detection. Law enforcement found explosives in Crooks’s car and home.
Surveillance with Drone
He also used a drone for surveillance about 200 yards from the rally site just hours before the rally.
Practice at Shooting Range
One day before the shooting, Crooks went to a shooting range and practiced with his firearm used in the assassination attempt.
Secret Service Review
While the FBI uncovers evidence and tries to establish a motive for Crooks, the Secret Service review of the events is also underway to determine what lapses in security made the former President vulnerable to the attack.
Congressional Hearings
While the House of Representatives held a hearing on the security failure earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee is also reviewing the new updates on the events on July 13.
Senator Grassley’s Disclosure
Top Judiciary Republican Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa publicly released text messages showing that local law enforcement had an awareness of Crooks well in advance of the assassination attempt, yet despite all of the information being shared among officers, Crooks was not detained or questioned in advance of the shooting.
