Former President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of its ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month.
The FBI confirmed this development on Monday, noting that the interview will be conducted as a standard victim interview to gather Trump’s perspective on the incident.
Recall that on July 13, a gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire at the rally, injuring Trump and killing a bystander, Corey Comperatore, 50. Crooks was eventually shot and killed by Secret Service snipers.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek explained the purpose of the interview, stating, “We want to get his perspective on what he observed,” as part of its standard protocol for interviewing victims of federal crimes.
Newly released text messages and evidence indicate that Crooks was spotted by a local SWAT team over 90 minutes before the shooting, a much earlier detection than previously reported. The FBI’s investigation has revealed that Crooks conducted meticulous planning ahead of the rally and made significant efforts to conceal his activities. Special Agent Rojek noted, “The shooter was identified by law enforcement as a suspicious person.”
Multiple investigations are underway to determine the lapses in security that allowed Crooks to carry out the attack. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after admitting to failures in securing the event. On the day of the shooting, the Secret Service was responsible for security within the fenced area, while local law enforcement managed areas beyond it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a bipartisan task force comprising 13 members to investigate the assassination attempt. The committee includes Pennsylvania Republican Mike Kelly and Tennessee’s Mark Green, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
The FBI’s extensive investigation, involving around 450 interviews, shows Crooks as a “highly intelligent” but reclusive individual who maintained few friendships. Despite his extensive planning, the FBI has yet to determine Crooks’ motive for the attack. Investigators believe Crooks made multiple purchases of components for explosive devices in a manner that did not arouse his parents’ suspicions.
As the investigation continues, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate are scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday to address the security failures.
