Trump Assassination Attempt: Investigation Update

Patrick G. Eddington

Thomas Matthew Crooks’ failed attempt on former President Trump’s life on July 13 has resulted in the opening of multiple investigations into the incident. What follows is a brief summary of what we know at the moment about each of these investigative tracks.

Criminal investigation: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has the lead, with the case falling under its Classification 89 investigative category. In a press release issued late on July 14, FBI officials said that information developed to date indicates that the shooter acted alone but that no motive had yet been established. Bureau officials also said Crooks was “not known to the FBI” prior to the shooting, and no information has surfaced yet indicating that Crooks had a prior criminal record or run-ins with law enforcement in his hometown of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the firearm used in the attack on Trump, the Bureau found at least a few improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Crooks’ possession that were subsequently neutralized by Bureau explosive ordnance experts. Given that we’re less than 72 hours into the criminal portion of the investigation, it will be at least several more days before we learn whether there were any indicators of Crooks’ intentions that were missed or successfully concealed prior to his assassination attempt on Trump.

Independent investigation of the security failure at the Trump rally: Beyond President Biden’s announcement of an “independent” investigation of the security breach at Trump’s event, we don’t actually know who is conducting the review, the scope of its mandate, or other key details. Earlier today, ABC News reported that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had this to say:

Mayorkas said it is important to have an “independent body” outside the Department of Homeland Security for “the integrity of the investigative process and the conclusions reached and the recommendations made have the full confidence of the government and the American public. And we intend to be transparent with respect to the findings and recommendations of the independent review.”

This means that DHS’s Inspector General will apparently not be involved in this particular investigation, which raises questions about whether the independent body Biden has charged to quickly investigate the security lapses will have the requisite investigative and forensic expertise to conduct a proper inquiry.

The congressional angle: One week from today, the House Oversight Committee will, in theory, be holding a hearing into the Secret Service’s handling of the security arrangements for Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania campaign event. Today, the House Homeland Security Committee will be briefed by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on the incident, and next week FBI Director Chris Wray will appear before the House Judiciary Committee for a previously scheduled hearing that will now no doubt focus heavily on the Trump assassination attempt and the status of the FBI’s investigation into it.

I’ll have more to say on each of these investigative tracks as information becomes available.