Mike Kelly, the Republican Representative from Pennsylvania who is leading the House task force dedicated to investigating the distressing incident in which an attempt was made on former President Donald Trump’s life, recently expressed curiosity over the seemingly delayed action from law enforcement upon detection of the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks. His remarks came in the wake of his second trip to the location of the incident at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania. This is the place where Crooks brazenly fired shots towards Trump during a rally for the ex-president’s campaign on the 13th of July, which tragically resulted in one supporter’s life being lost and critical injuries inflicted upon a further two.
Echoing sentiments often expressed in sporting events, Kelly asked, ‘Who was quarterbacking it? Who made the final call?’ These questions highlight the lack of immediate and decisive action in the face of looming danger. ‘There has to be someone making that call. If no one steps up, the team is stuck,’ said Kelly during an interview with Fox News Digital. ‘At that moment, action seemed frozen.’
Kelly, a native of Butler, signaled caution over brandishing the entire situation as an instance of criminal negligence considering it is in the preliminary stages of investigation. Raising attention to the investigation, he emphasized that the rush to immediate conclusions bars the path to careful and thorough understanding.
In a statement that rings particularly true when viewed against the backdrop of the tragic event, the Pennsylvanian representative expressed his belief that the ‘worst thing one can do is not be prepared’. The bipartisan task force, passed by a unanimous 416-0 vote in the House, has been appointed to meticulously scrutinize the incident.
Currently, the task force is making strides in carrying out interviews with officials at the federal, state, and local levels, along with rally attendees. Their mission is to uncover the gaps and shortcomings that manifested on July 13. The capability to issue subpoenas to federal agencies for requisite information further bolsters the task force’s investigative prowess.
Jason Crow, the Ranking Member from Colorado and a renowned ex-Army Ranger with commendable service records in Iraq and Afghanistan, mentioned that a key objective of the task force is to rebuild American trust in the security of their leaders. He noted several unsecured lines of sight at the venue, highlighting the multitude of questions that were emerging.
During the site visit, lawmakers could ascertain the exact location where Trump had been positioned on stage in relation to the American Glass Research (AGR) building – the vantage point from which Crooks allegedly fired at least eight shots. Law enforcement reports suggest that Crooks gained access to this position by climbing HVAC equipment and piping on the exterior of the one-story, industrial building.
It has come to light from reports that Crooks spent considerable time (at least 70 minutes) scouting the rally area on the day of the shooting. He also flew a drone over the premises for about 10 minutes in the afternoon, providing further evidence of his meticulous planning.
Recent video footage sourced from Iron Clad USA, a clothing brand that happened to be vending at the rally, corroborates this. The footage presents Crooks wandering around the area a considerable period – one and a half hours, prior to when he opened fire.
Text message records obtained by Republican Iowa Senator, Chuck Grassley, show that law enforcement’s snipers detected Crooks approximately 90 minutes before he began his AI-15-style rifle shooting spree. This action resulted in the senseless killing of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and caused injuries to James Copenhaver, 74, and David Dutch, 57.
Shortly before the chaos ensued, local law enforcement spotted Crooks positioned on the roof of the AGR building. In a valiant albeit risky move, one officer boosted another to catch a glimpse of the roof, which is when they spotted Crooks. The sight of the gunman pointing his rifle caused the officer to lose balance and fall.
Post this, the two officers reported a suspicious individual on the rooftop. However, barely had they done so before the gunman initiated his deadly attack. Body-worn camera footage from the Butler Township Police Department reveals officers recounting how they had instructed the U.S. Secret Service to watch the AGR building’s roof.
Kelly confirmed that the task force had been actively investigating the incident since the beginning of August. The existing concern is not just about the motive behind Crooks’ horrifying action, but simultaneously an extensive effort is underway to ascertain whether he acted alone.
The FBI has been making rigorous attempts to piece together Crooks’ motivation for the assassination attempt and to find out if he was part of a bigger plot. However, at this time, the agency stated that there are no overt indicators pointing towards the involvement of other individuals.
Understanding the truth behind the incident is not just about subjecting the events of that fateful day to scrutiny. It involves responding with renewed determination to protect the nation’s leaders, reassuring the American people about their security, and showing them that their elected representatives will leave no stone unturned when it comes to their safety.