FBI Director Christopher Wray recently shared some chilling details about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to Wray, Crooks searched Google about the assassination of President Kennedy on the same day he registered for the Trump rally.
Wray’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee shed light on Crooks’ state of mind leading up to the attempted assassination. The analysis of a laptop connected to Crooks revealed that on July 6, he made a Google search asking, “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” This search was significant in understanding Crooks’ mindset.
It was on July 6 that Crooks registered for the Butler rally, as confirmed by Wray. This revelation has raised concerns about the motivations behind Crooks’ actions and whether there were any warning signs that could have been detected earlier.
The investigation into the attempted assassination has sparked multiple hearings in Congress, with former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifying before the House Oversight Committee and subsequently resigning. The House Homeland Security Committee also heard from Pennsylvania State Police before Wray’s testimony.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Carlos Gimenez, have visited Butler to inspect the scene of the crime. Gimenez expressed disbelief that the Secret Service had not secured the roof from where Crooks fired at Trump. He climbed onto the roof himself to demonstrate that it was feasible for agents to be stationed there.
Cheatle had previously cited the “sloped roof” as a hindrance to having agents on the building. However, Gimenez’s actions called this explanation into question, highlighting potential lapses in security measures that could have prevented the assassination attempt.
The investigation into Crooks’ motives continues, with profilers suggesting that he may not have been politically motivated but rather an organized thinker. The search history and actions leading up to the attempted assassination paint a complex picture of a troubled individual who posed a serious threat to the former president.
As more details emerge about the events surrounding the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, questions remain about the security protocols in place and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. The chilling Google search made by Crooks underscores the importance of monitoring and addressing concerning behavior before it escalates into violence.
