Trump agrees to give a victim interview to the FBI after assassination attempt

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump has agreed to take part in a sufferer interview with the FBI targeted on his tried assassination, a bureau official informed reporters Monday.

The interview with Trump can be according to any interview the bureau would conduct for any sufferer of crime beneath any circumstances, an official mentioned.

Trump confirmed the plans Monday night time.

“They’re coming in on Thursday to see me,” he mentioned in an interview on Fox Information.

The FBI investigation has discovered that tried murderer Thomas Matthew Crooks was a “very smart” man, in addition to “a loner” with few mates and acquaintances exterior of his household, and that he had a rising curiosity in weapons.

His motive remains to be not identified. The FBI has carried out a whole lot of interviews and requested details about his on-line accounts, together with gaming accounts, from dozens of firms, an official mentioned. His search historical past included in search of details about the tried assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico this 12 months, in addition to mass shootings and energy vegetation, an official mentioned. Final week, the FBI revealed that Crooks had searched “how distant was Oswald from Kennedy?” in regards to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald, a couple of week earlier than the assault.

The FBI discovered that the ladder Crooks bought earlier than the capturing was not taken to the Trump rally, although officers discovered a bloodied receipt for it on his physique. Crooks did seem to have used a drone forward of the assault, though no recorded footage was discovered on the drone, the FBI mentioned.

Crooks fired off eight rounds simply 25 to 30 seconds after an area police officer tried to confront him on the roof. NBC Information has reported, citing the FBI and different legislation enforcement, that the officer was boosted up above the roof line by a colleague and that Crooks pointed his weapon on the officer simply earlier than he fired.

Crooks appeared to have fastidiously deliberate the assault forward of the marketing campaign rally and labored to maintain his plans quiet, an official mentioned throughout a briefing for reporters Monday, greater than two weeks after the July 13 try on Trump’s life.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate mentioned Monday that the bureau had been working across the clock on the investigation and that whereas the bureau usually doesn’t share common updates about ongoing investigations, FBI officers felt doing so right here was essential for the American public.

U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned final week within the wake of the assault and after a contentious Home listening to in regards to the try. The Senate will conduct its personal listening to this week with the FBI and Division of Homeland Safety.

Abbate mentioned the bureau was gathering info however was not targeted on figuring out failures by legislation enforcement that day, saying that sort of study was higher left to others.

“The whole lot of the FBI is dedicated to uncovering the actual info, the reality about this assault on former President Trump and the homicide of Mr. Comperatore and the harm to others as nicely,” Abbate mentioned, referring to Corey Comperatore, a rallygoer who was killed within the assault. Two others have been wounded.

FBI Director Christopher Wray informed Congress final week that “there’s some query about whether or not or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that hit Trump’s ear through the assassination try, including gasoline to conspiracy theories in regards to the capturing.

FBI Agent Kevin Rojek, who runs the Pittsburgh workplace, mentioned Monday that Trump was struck with a bullet, whether or not or not it’s an entire or fragmented bullet, echoing an announcement from the bureau issued Friday after Wray’s congressional testimony.

Rojek mentioned that Crooks appeared to have “made vital efforts to hide his actions.”

Rojek mentioned Crooks seemed to be “a loner,” and one other official mentioned there was no indication that Crooks had any psychological well being therapy or institutionalization.

The FBI has had problem moving into a few of Crooks’ accounts due to his use of encrypted apps, a bureau official mentioned.

“Encryption has been a problem for us right here on this investigation,” mentioned FBI official Bobby Wells.