FBI Director Explains Assassination Attempt on Trump and Threats from the Islamic Republic to Congress

The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray, appeared before the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, August 3, to answer lawmakers' questions regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, stating that investigations are still ongoing. A significant portion of Wray's explanations to members of the House Judiciary Committee focused on the assailant, but he also referred to threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran against Trump. According to Jeff Seldin, a reporter for the English section of Voice of America who covered the session, he continued, "We must understand the unusual level of threats from the Iranian regime, including right here, in the United States." Wray also mentioned that he expects to see and hear more threats of this nature. He added that all threats have been communicated to the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump. In part of his remarks, Wray stated that his organization is conducting ongoing investigations into ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, Iranian proxy groups, including Hezbollah, and even the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps itself. He also said that his agency's assessment is that Russia wants to influence the U.S. presidential election on November 5, 2024, and the electoral process and democracy in the United States in various ways. Wray stated that so far, there is no evidence of whether the assailant had any foreign or domestic accomplices. He told the members of the House Judiciary Committee that the attempt to assassinate the former U.S. president was "an attack on our democracy and our democratic process," referring to elections and the holding of political and electoral gatherings. The FBI Director added, "We will not tolerate any political violence." Wray emphasized that his agency is examining all details and various aspects of the 20-year-old man's attempt to kill the former president during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Wray said, "I have been saying for some time that we live in an environment where the level of threats has increased," adding that the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler is another example of living in such an environment. He stated that the FBI still does not know why Trump was not prevented from appearing on stage during the campaign rally before the shooting occurred. Wray said there is no indication that the shooter, who was killed by Secret Service agents, had any accomplices. The FBI Director mentioned that his agency has obtained a drone that the assailant apparently used, and officials are examining it in the FBI laboratory. He said that the drone control was found in the assailant's vehicle and that he had apparently used it around 3:50 to 4 PM to survey the area near the speech venue, not the venue itself. Christopher Wray also stated that three explosive devices belonging to the assailant were found, two in his vehicle and one at his residence, and that the assailant had remote controls for the explosives when he was killed. The FBI Director said that due to the distance, if he had attempted to detonate the devices remotely from the roof from which he shot at Trump, he would not have been able to do so. He added that the shooter was using encrypted messaging apps, which he said have become "commonplace." Wray stated that the assailant (Thomas Matthew Crooks) fired at least eight shots, as at least eight shell casings were collected. According to him, the assailant had visited the site about a week before the shooting for approximately 20 minutes and had also visited the area on the morning of Trump's campaign rally for about 70 minutes, and then a third time in the afternoon when he flew the drone and ultimately shot. Previously, lawmakers had also questioned the Director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and criticized her performance sharply. Cheatle resigned from her position a day after appearing before Congress. Additionally, see: Biden to the people: In America, we resolve our differences through the ballot box, not with bullets. Resignation of the Director of the Secret Service; Joe Biden thanked Kimberly Cheatle for her services. The Director of the Secret Service told Congress members: We failed in the "assassination attempt on Trump" case. Biden ordered a "comprehensive and swift" investigation into the failed assassination of Trump: the motive of the shooter is still unclear. Former U.S. Defense Secretary: It is time for the Biden administration to take better action than mere "defense" against threats from the Islamic Republic. Security agents shot and killed a person near the Republican National Convention. Biden to the people: In America, we resolve our differences through the ballot box, not with bullets.