Trump may NOT have been hit by bullet at rally, FBI chief suggests as he reveals shooter’s chilling JFK Google searches
TRUMP may not have been hit by a bullet during the attempted assassination at a political rally, America’s FBI boss has claimed.
FBI director Christopher Wray made the explosive statement while also telling of shooter Thomas Crooks’ terrifying search history leading up to the deadly attack.
There is no suggestion that Trump was not shot, despite wild and baseless conspiracies already appearing to suggest the brazen attack was faked.
But Mr Wray spoke to the US House Judiciary Committee to suggest they’re unsure on whether Trump was shot directly in the ear.
He said: “With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.
“So it is conceivable, as I sit here right now, I don’t know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else.”
Mr Wray was under fire while addressing security failures that allowed gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, to open fire.
The FBI chief also revealed how the gunman had chillingly searched for other public figures online prior to the attack.
One week before the shooting it’s claimed Crooks searched up: ‘How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’
The search on July 6 is reference to US President John F. Kennedy‘s death after he was shot dead by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Oswald shot Kennedy from a sniper’s perch in Dallas on November 22 1963 as onlookers watched on in horror.
Regarding the rally gunman’s search history, the FBI boss said: “That’s a search obviously that is significant in terms of his state of mind.
“That is the same day that it appears that he registered [for the Trump rally.]”
Crooks also reportedly had been researching the British Royal Family before the shooting, and allegedly had saved images of Kate Middleton.
The FBI continue to investigate the shooting that killed 50-year-old rally-goer Corey Comperatore, and seriously wounded David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.
Crooks was “neutralized” by Secret Service snipers shortly after opening fire at the former president during a campaign, sending shockwaves across US politics.
The gunman perched on a roof at a political rally led by Donald Trump and shot at him in a shocking attempt on his life last Saturday.
Mr Wray added: “We do not know the motive.
“That is obviously one of the central questions in our investigation, and it’s been very frustrating to us that a lot of the usual kind of low-hanging-fruit places that we would find that have not yielded significant clues about his motive.”
It has been claimed that Secret Service agents failed to properly secure the area ahead of the event, even after flagging the shooter’s perch as a security risk.
Pressure has been mounting for the head of the agency to step down following the biggest failure in presidential security for decades.
According to one US senator who was in on the briefing call with FBI agents, Republican John Barrasso, it was a “cover-your-ass” meeting.
Intelligence shared in the call suggests that the Secret Service was warned about a “suspicious person” an hour before Trump went on stage at the Butler rally.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office leading an investigation into the assassination attempt, said they are still trying to pin down Crooks’ motive.
Donald Trump Rally Shooting Timeline
Donald Trump was shot at during his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
1pm: Doors open at the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump was expected to speak at 5pm.
4:11pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:10pm: Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, later identified as the shooter, was first identified as a person of interest.
5:30pm: Crooks was spotted with a rangefinder.
5:30pm: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
5:52pm: Crooks was spotted on the roof by Secret Service.
6:02pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:09pm: Two sniper teams posted on buildings to the north and south behind the rally stage repositioned and were locked on Crooks.
6:12pm: Gunshots were fired toward the stage as Trump delivered remarks.
6:12pm: Secret Service returns fire, confirming the shooter is dead.
6:12pm: Trump was ushered off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42pm: Secret Service confirmed Trump is safe.
7:24pm: The shooter and one rally attendee are confirmed dead by law enforcement officials.
8:42pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49pm: The Secret Service confirms the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain critically injured.