In a startling development, FBI Director Christopher Wray has cast doubt on whether former President Donald Trump was directly hit by a bullet during the recent assassination attempt at a campaign rally. Wray’s statement, made during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, has added a new layer of complexity to the already shocking incident.
Wray told the committee, “With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.” He further elaborated, “So it is conceivable, as I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else.” This statement has sparked intense discussion, though it’s important to note that there is no suggestion that Trump was not shot, despite the emergence of baseless conspiracy theories.
The FBI director’s testimony also revealed disturbing details about the shooter’s online activities leading up to the attack. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman, had conducted chilling online searches that hint at his state of mind. Notably, just a week before the attack, Crooks searched, “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” This query, referencing Lee Harvey Oswald’s assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, was made on the same day Crooks registered for the Trump rally.
Wray emphasized the significance of this search, stating, “That’s a search obviously that is significant in terms of his state of mind.” The investigation also uncovered that Crooks had been researching the British Royal Family and had saved images of Kate Middleton, further broadening the scope of his interests.
Despite these revelations, Wray admitted that the FBI has yet to determine a clear motive for the attack. He expressed frustration that many of the “usual kind of low-hanging-fruit places” that typically yield clues have not provided significant insights into Crooks’ motivations.
The shooting at the Butler rally resulted in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and seriously wounded two others: David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Crooks himself was killed by police snipers shortly after opening fire, in an incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation.
The attack has also raised serious questions about security measures at the event. It has been alleged that Secret Service agents failed to properly secure the area, even after identifying the shooter’s perch as a potential security risk. This lapse led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle just a day after being questioned by Congress on the agency’s failure.
Senator John Barrasso criticized a briefing call with FBI agents as a “cover-your-ass” meeting. Intelligence shared during this call suggested that the Secret Service had been warned about a “suspicious person” an hour before Trump took the stage.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, which is leading the investigation, confirmed that they are still working to determine Crooks’ motive. The ongoing investigation continues to uncover new details and raise questions about the events leading up to this shocking incident.
