In a chilling revelation, it has been discovered that the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump had ominously hinted at his deadly intentions on social media.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin, had posted a cryptic message on the online gaming platform Steam, stating, "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds." This information was disclosed to lawmakers during a briefing with FBI officials, as investigations into the 20-year-old gunman's actions continue.
As reported by The Independent, on the fateful day of July 13, Crooks arrived at Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, armed with an AR-15 that his father had legally purchased. He positioned himself on the roof of a building just outside the security perimeter, approximately 150 yards from where Trump was addressing the crowd. From this vantage point, Crooks opened fire, hitting Trump in the ear before the former President was shielded by Secret Service agents. Tragically, three rally attendees were also shot, one of whom did not survive.
The FBI's ongoing investigation has revealed that Crooks had been researching both Trump and current President Joe Biden online prior to the attack. His digital footprint included images of these political figures, as well as other notable personalities such as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, and Fulton County DA Fani Willis. His cellphones also revealed searches for the dates of Trump's public events and the Democratic National Convention.
Despite these findings, investigators are still grappling with one significant question: what motivated Crooks to carry out this act of violence? He had no criminal history and was not known to law enforcement prior to the attack. His political affiliations were also ambiguous. While he was registered to vote as a Republican, he had made a small contribution to a Democratic-aligned political action committee, the Progressive Turnout Project. A former high school classmate described his views as "slightly right-leaning" but did not recall him expressing strong political opinions. The FBI has stated that they found no "political or ideological information" at Crooks' residence that could have contributed to the attack.
The focus of the investigation may now shift towards Crooks' mental health, as he had searched for "major depressive disorder" on one of his cellphones. This revelation comes amidst growing criticism of the Secret Service's response to the shooting. Republicans are calling for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, following reports that Crooks had been spotted at the rally site multiple times before the attack.
In a heated confrontation, GOP lawmakers demanded answers from Cheatle about the agency's failure to prevent the attack. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso was particularly vocal, shouting, "You put him within less than an inch of his life. Resignation or full explanation." Despite the mounting pressure, Cheatle, who is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee, has acknowledged her responsibility but has yet to accede to calls for her resignation.
The incident has sparked a renewed debate about security measures at political rallies and the need for more effective mental health interventions. As the investigation continues, the nation awaits answers about what led a seemingly ordinary young man to attempt such a heinous act.
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