Rep. Mike Waltz, a member of the Bipartisan Assassination Task Force, alleges that the FBI has not been forthcoming with their investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks. While investigations have revealed failures on the part of the U.S. Secret Service, Waltz claims that the FBI has not provided adequate information over two months after the incident. He has criticized the agency for not sharing details about the shooter, Crooks, his encrypted accounts, and how he learned to build improvised explosive devices. Despite the Secret Service taking responsibility for their failures, the FBI has faced scrutiny for their lack of transparency.
FBI Director Christopher Wray initially suggested that the object that hit former President Trump’s ear during the assassination attempt may have been shrapnel, but later confirmed that it was a bullet from Crooks’ rifle. Waltz has called for Wray and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to hold a press conference to provide more information, similar to the transparency shown by the Secret Service. He expressed frustration with the redacted documents provided to lawmakers by the FBI, stating that this level of redaction was unprecedented in his experience.
The shooting at a Trump rally in July has raised concerns about the safety of elected officials in the current hyper-partisan environment. Waltz has highlighted the FBI’s lack of cooperation in sharing information about Iran’s multiple plots to kill Trump and hack information from his campaign. He emphasized the need to issue subpoenas to the FBI to ensure transparency and accountability. The task force is also investigating a second possible assassination attempt against Trump at his golf club in Florida, with Rep. Madeleine Dean condemning all forms of political violence and emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
Waltz and Dean, both members of the task force, have expressed frustration with the FBI’s handling of the investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump. While the U.S. Secret Service has taken responsibility for their failures during the rally in Pennsylvania where Crooks fired shots from a rooftop, the FBI has been criticized for its lack of transparency and failure to provide crucial information about the shooter. The ongoing investigations and debates around political violence aim to ensure the safety of elected officials and hold law enforcement agencies accountable for their actions.
The lack of cooperation from the FBI, particularly in sharing information about the shooter and Iran’s plots against former President Trump, has raised concerns among lawmakers like Waltz and Dean. The FBI’s handling of the investigation into the assassination attempt has been met with frustration and calls for increased transparency. As the task force continues to probe the events surrounding the attempted assassination, the focus remains on holding agencies accountable and preventing political violence in the future. Waltz and Dean stress the need for a thorough investigation into both attempted attacks against Trump and condemn all forms of political violence.
