Thomas Crooks, the individual responsible for the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, had searched for “major depressive disorder” on his cellphone prior to the incident, as revealed by FBI director Chris Wray during a Congressional hearing. Along with this search, investigators found information on the Democrat and Republican national conventions, as well as photos of Trump and President Biden.
Despite conducting 200 interviews and examining 14,000 images on Crooks’ phone, the FBI has yet to determine a definitive motive for the attempted assassination. Wray disclosed that Crooks had visited the rally site at least once before the shooting took place.
Rep. Tim Burchett expressed skepticism regarding the lack of progress in the investigation, stating that he does not believe the administration’s claims of having no leads. There have been growing calls for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down over the incident, and the Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Cheatle for a hearing scheduled on July 22.
The FBI has refrained from commenting on potential motives or responding to lawmakers’ criticisms. The shooting resulted in the death of former fire chief Corey Comperatore, who shielded his family during the attack. Additionally, two individuals, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, sustained serious injuries and are currently recovering in a hospital.
Crooks, who would have turned 21 in September, was a registered Republican but had only participated in the November 2022 state election due to his age. He had no prior criminal record or traffic citations. Secret Service snipers neutralized Crooks after he opened fire from a rooftop overlooking the rally, sparking an investigation into how he gained access to the building’s roof and the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
The lack of a clear motive and the ongoing investigation have raised concerns among lawmakers and the public, with demands for transparency and accountability in the handling of the case. The Oversight Committee’s scrutiny of Cheatle and the FBI’s investigative process underscores the seriousness of the incident and the need for answers regarding the attempted assassination.
