Trump to Face FBI Grilling Over Assassination Attempt Investigation

The FBI has initiated a standard protocol to interview former President Donald Trump following an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally. Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, sustained minor injuries when a bullet fragment struck his ear during the July 13 incident.

Special Agent Kevin Rojek confirmed the necessity of Trump’s perspective on the event for the investigation. The FBI’s probe focuses on the assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who meticulously planned the attack using chemical precursors and drones. Crooks’ interactions online were minimal, even in gaming platforms, and his family has fully cooperated with the investigation.

Authorities discovered explosive devices in Crooks’ car and home, designed with ammunition boxes and ignition devices. The FBI is still determining the potential damage of these unexploded devices. The investigation revealed Crooks’ online searches on figures like Trump and President Joe Biden, along with other mass attacks and explosive devices.

Investigative details show Crooks registered to attend the rally on July 6, days before the shooting, searching for information related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Lapses in law enforcement communication were noted, with local officers identifying Crooks as suspicious hours before the attack. Texts from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit detail sightings of Crooks, including him handling a rangefinder near the rally site.

Crooks ascended a building at the AGR International Inc complex, firing eight shots with an AR-style rifle acquired by his father. The attack resulted in the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore and injuries to two others, before Crooks was neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.