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Catherine Herridge drops full FBI readout briefing on Trump assassination attempt

August 29, 2024 | | Print Article

New details emerged on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump last month as the FBI released photos and more from its investigation.

The bureau has not yet uncovered a motive for the would-be-assassin, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, and many of the details that were just released seemed to only spark more questions. A full readout of the FBI briefing call on Wednesday was posted on X by investigative reporter Catherine Herridge.

Bobby Wells, executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, said during the briefing that “at this time, the FBI has not identified a motive, nor any co-conspirators or associates of Crooks with advanced knowledge of the attack.”

He added that “we have not seen any indication that Crooks was directed by a foreign entity.”

Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, spoke with reporters on Wednesday, confirming that there was “no second shooter” and that Crooks fired 8 shots at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally on July 13. Two other shots fired were attributed to local law enforcement and the Secret Service sniper.

“We have a clear idea of mindset, but we are not ready to make any conclusive statements regarding motive at this time,” Rojek said. “I would say that we see no definitive ideology associated with our subject, either left-leaning or right-leaning.”

Investigators believe Crooks conducted “extensive attack planning,” with online activity including searches of schedules for Trump and President Joe Biden. Rojek explained that the online search history revealed a “sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack.”

“We saw through our analysis of all his – particularly his online searches – a sustained detailed effort to plan an attack on some events, meaning he looked at any number of events or targets,” Rojek said. “And then, when this event was announced, the Trump rally was announced, early in July, he became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity.”

Rojek revealed that on July 6, Crooks searched online “where Will Trump speak from at Butler Farm Show” as well as “Butler Farm Show podium” and “Butler Farm show photos.”

And the online searches were not limited to just the days or weeks before Trump’s rally as the FBI noted that from September 2019 to this summer, Crooks searched various terms including “how to make a bomb from fertilizer,” “detonating cord,” “blasting cap,” and “how do remote detonators work.”

Images of the rifle Crooks used, the backpack he was seen wearing, and improvised explosive devices that were discovered in the trunk of Crooks’ car were released by the FBI as well.

The FBI investigation has reportedly included nearly 1,000 interviews, the viewing of hundreds of hours of video footage as well as the serving of search warrants.

Concerns about the cleaning up of the rooftop where Crooks was shot and died were not an issue with preserving the crime scene, according to Rojek as the actions were consistent with standard procedures.

Frieda Powers
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