Trump shooter searched for detail of Kennedy assassination, FBI says

FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning as lawmakers continue to probe security failures around the near-assassination of former President Donald Trump. Wray testified about the preparations of the would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks leading up to the July 13 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pa. He also discussed the role of heated rhetoric in the growth of political violence, and intel about a possible Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.

Did Wray reveal anything new about the shooter? Few details have been previously released by investigators about the 20-year-old, who the U.S. Secret Service killed in Butler. Investigators in the past few days discovered troubling details of Crooks’ internet search history on laptop and mobile devices Wray said. Crooks searched on July 6 for “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy,”—a reference to the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He searched for that detail the same day he registered for the rally in Butler, Wray testified.

What else did investigators learn from his internet browsing? Crooks’ internet history revealed a preoccupation with public figures, Wray said. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., asked Wray if any of the public figures that interested Crooks shared anything in common, including a particular political party. Wray responded that the raw data consisted merely of cached images taken from various online news stories Crooks viewed. He said the data should in no way be considered a hit list. He added that the public figures had no discernable commonalties, spanned both major political parties, and included both national and international leaders.

Is there anything new about the equipment Crooks used? Investigators found a drone inside Crooks’ vehicle after the shooting. Wray said after their analysis, investigators believe Crooks flew the drone shortly before 4 p.m., roughly a couple of hours before the rally began. During an 11-minute flight, Crooks watched video streamed from the drone, which he flew roughly 200 yards away from the event stage, Wray said.

Wray added that investigators discovered three explosive devices linked to Crooks. Two of them were found inside his vehicle and the third was located in his home. Wray characterized the devices as relatively crude but noted that they had an enhanced capability of remote detonation.

Do investigators know why Crooks tried to assassinate the former president? Wray said investigators have not determined a motive in the case.

What about Iran? Wray declined to discuss specific classified information but said there’s a need to recognize the brazenness of the Iranian regime in the United States. The FBI has a procedure for passing on threats to the Secret Service.

Dig deeper: Read R. Albert Mohler Jr.'s commentary for WORLD Opinions on the attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life.