Thomas Michael Crooks researched the assassination of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy (JFK) before his failed attempt at eliminating former President Donald Trump, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray.
The FBI director made this revelation on July 24, when he testified before the House Judiciary Committee (HJC). According to the bureau's analysis of Crooks' computer, he began researching the JFK assassination on July 6. It was also on the same day he registered to attend the Trump rally at Butler, Pennsylvania.
"He did a Google search for – quote – 'how far away was [Lee Harvey] Oswald from Kennedy.' That's a search that's obviously significant in terms of his state of mind," Wray said. He added that Crooks, 20, had become "very focused on [former] President Trump and his rally" at the time.
Oswald gunned down JFK in November 1963 while the latter was on a motorcade in Dallas. While Oswald was captured by law enforcement, he was unable to testify before a court as he was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
"Wray's testimony shed little light on Crooks' motivation," Russia Today (RT) mentioned. The FBI head insisted that the shooter wasn't in contact with any accomplices or co-conspirators and did not speculate about his political leanings.
"It is, quite frankly, a dangerous time to be a prominent public official," Wray continued, noting that the would-be assassin did "a lot of searches of public figures in general" before becoming fixated on the real estate mogul.
The FBI director didn't comment on how many Secret Service snipers were present at the rally, or whether allegations that the service had pulled some staff from Trump's security detail before the event. However, Wray also disclosed that Crooks visited the campaign rally site on three occasions – and was even flying a drone around the area just two hours before Trump took to the stage.
Rep. Jordan acknowledges Americans' skepticism toward the FBI
Wray continued that law enforcement officers didn't spot Crooks on the roof with his AR-15-style rifle until "seconds" before he opened fire. However, several attendees of the campaign rally already spotted the shooter and urged authorities to act. Their calls fell on deaf ears, allowing Crooks to eventually fire at Trump. (Related: Trump shooter spotted with a RANGEFINDER ahead of assassination attempt – but no one stopped him.)
Congressional Republicans later took note of this disregard, noting that the Secret Service paid no mind to an armed Crooks crawling around the roof of a nearby building before opening fire. They also blasted the service for failing to secure the rooftop vantage point despite it being around 150 meters (492 feet) from where Trump stood.
A day before Wray testified, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told the House Oversight Committee on July 22 that she took responsibility for the "most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades." Pressure prompted Cheatle to step down from her position on July 23.
The FBI director also noted that Crooks' weapon at the time had a collapsible stock, "which could explain why it might have been less easy for people to observe." But he acknowledged that the timeline of events could change as the investigators' understanding of facts evolves, commenting: "It's all happening in seconds."
"I have been saying for some time now that we are living in an elevated-threat environment. And tragically, the … assassination attempt [on Trump] is another example, particularly heinous."
HJC Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) welcomed Wray's willingness to share details about the FBI investigation into the assassination attempt. However, he cited skepticism toward the bureau that exists among some Republicans. According to Jordan, these GOP members are angry about the arrest of Trump supporters during the Jan. 6 false-flag riot – who were goaded into violence by FBI plants such as Ray Epps.
"I'm sure you understand that a significant portion of the country has a healthy skepticism regarding the FBI's ability to conduct a fair, honest, open and transparent investigation," Jordan told Wray.
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Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams discussing a bizarre claim by Wray about eight unspent rounds being found on the roof where Thomas Matthew Crooks positioned himself.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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