Thomas Matthew Crooks, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, researched the assassination of President John F. Kennedy online in the week leading up to the rally in Pennsylvania where he allegedly fired upon Trump.
On Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee, disclosing that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the accused shooter in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, conducted an online search about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy just days before the Pennsylvania rally.
According to Wray, Crooks searched Google for "how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?" on July 6, the same day he registered to attend the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This search, Wray noted, is "significant in terms of his state of mind."
Thomas Crooks, Accused Trump Gunman, Searched Kennedy Assassination Details Prior to Rally
Crooks' search history also revealed that he had become increasingly focused on Trump and the rally in the days leading up to the event. Wray testified, "Somewhere around July 6 or so, [Crooks] became very focused on former President Trump and this rally."
Several lawmakers visited Butler earlier this week to examine the scene of the attempted assassination firsthand. Representative Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., expressed concerns about the Secret Service's security measures, particularly their failure to secure the roof from which Crooks allegedly fired on Trump.
Thomas Crooks, Accused Trump Gunman, Searched Kennedy Assassination Details Prior to Rally
Gimenez stated, "What really bothers me, and the reason I got up on the roof — I'm 70 — was for the director to say, ‘Well, the steepness of the roof won't allow Secret Service agents to be up there.’ That was the final straw for me."
Gimenez emphasized that he was able to climb around on the roof without difficulty, questioning the Secret Service's claim that the slope prevented them from securing it.
Thomas Crooks, Accused Trump Gunman, Searched Kennedy Assassination Details Prior to Rally
Kimberly Cheatle, the former Secret Service director, resigned shortly after delivering testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. Cheatle had previously stated that the "sloped roof" had prevented Secret Service agents from being stationed on the building where Crooks allegedly fired from.
The House Homeland Security Committee held hearings on Tuesday to hear testimony from the Pennsylvania State Police regarding the incident.
Thomas Crooks, Accused Trump Gunman, Searched Kennedy Assassination Details Prior to Rally
Criminal profilers have suggested that Crooks' actions were likely not politically motivated. They have described him as an "organized thinker" with a history of mental health issues.
The investigation into the attempted assassination is ongoing, with Congress holding multiple hearings to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the Secret Service's response.
