Federal law enforcement officials have informed CBS News that an online account attributed to the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump was fake.
The account in question, linked to the gaming platform Steam, claimed that July 13, the date of the attack, was the shooter’s “premiere.” However, upon further investigation, federal law enforcement officials concluded that the account did not belong to the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The FBI reportedly briefed U.S. Senators on Wednesday, indicating that Crooks had allegedly posted: “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.” This claim has since been debunked as part of a misinformation campaign.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana announced his intention to create a House task force to investigate the attempted assassination and the “shocking security failures” at the event.
FBI Director Christopher Wray is scheduled to testify next week at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the FBI’s investigation into the incident.
Today, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) stated that whistleblowers informed the committee that the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) “did not have proper resources” for Trump’s campaign rally due to “staffing shortages.” These shortages were reportedly caused by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and an event hosted by First Lady Jill Biden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Jordan has sent a list of questions regarding the attempted assassination and the FBI’s investigation to Wray, who is expected to respond during his testimony on July 24.
The attempted assassination occurred at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks fired several shots at Trump, wounding his ear. The attack also resulted in severe injuries to two attendees and the fatal shooting of a former volunteer fire chief, Corey Comperatore.
As investigations continue, lawmakers and the public seek answers about the security lapses and misinformation that surrounded this shocking event.
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