On Monday, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced bipartisan calls on her to resign, and yesterday that's exactly what happened.
A House hearing featuring testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray is so far a little less contentious, but Wray has given a few answers that are only bound to lead to even more questions.
Wray did confirm the shooter's use of a drone and encrypted messaging apps and possession of "relatively crude" explosives:
Wray says drone recovered in Crooks' vehicle--don't know which one--and he flew it around the area (not stage Wray says) btw 3:50-4pm to "live stream" vicinity.
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) July 24, 2024
Wray says investigators recovered 3 explosive devices--two in vehicle and one at home. "Relatively crude" but could be…
Julie Kelly's full post:
Wray says drone recovered in Crooks' vehicle--don't know which one--and he flew it around the area (not stage Wray says) btw 3:50-4pm to "live stream" vicinity.
Wray says investigators recovered 3 explosive devices--two in vehicle and one at home. "Relatively crude" but could be detonated remotely.
Crooks had a transmitter with him.
Wray says Crooks used encrypted messaging apps. J
ordan says Congress wants access to those messages.
Adjourned for votes.
Here's video of the exchanges:
FBI Director Wray says that Thomas Crooks, the attempted Trump assassin, was flying a drone about 200 yds from the stage where Trump spoke about two hours before the rally, "live streaming."
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) July 24, 2024
Also says FBI recovered 3 explosive devices, 2 in Crook's car and one in his home. pic.twitter.com/sT7rmuCl0H
Before a break in the hearing into the attempted assassination of President DJT, Director Wray discloses information regarding the 'shooter's' drone, bombs, remote controls, encrypted comms etc .. pic.twitter.com/NXazATTlub
— wlctv.ca (@wlctv_ca) July 24, 2024
Wray did add "we think" to some of his responses so there isn't a lot of "we know" information on display from the FBI director at today's hearing.
Director Wray says Crooks' drone was in his vehicle.
— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) July 24, 2024
Shooter was flying drone around the Butler rally area -- 200 yards away from the stage "we think," "live-streaming," "viewing footage" two hours before President Trump took the stage.
He also had several "crude" explosive…
As usual, Wray's comments bring up more questions:
Drones typically won't fly into geofenced high security areas, even temporary ones.
— Probably Definitely not Stoya (@notstoya) July 24, 2024
Did the USSS/DHS create a no-fly zone over the rally that day?
Great question
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) July 24, 2024
Perhaps a member of the committee will get to that issue when the hearing resumes.
And they think people should believe a 20yr old outsmarted them all, never mind got his hands on the explosives?
— MsPatriot65 (@MPatriot65) July 24, 2024
The apparent ease with which the gunman gained access to the area, specifically the roof while rally-goers attempted to point him out, demands answers.
I wonder what brand of drone Crooks used to assist in his assassination attempt on Donald Trump…
— Rowan Saydlowski (@rsaydlowski) July 24, 2024
(Hint: Chinese military-affiliated DJI produces 90% of all consumer drones in the United States) https://t.co/891ua4EHLu
Wray said the shooter used encrypted comms so now the other question becomes who he was communicating with.