The FBI “successfully gained access” to the phone of the man suspected of shooting former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, the agency said Monday.
Access to the phone could provide information about why suspected gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks scaled a building adjacent to where Trump was giving a speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday and opened fire on the former president.
A bullet grazed Trump’s ear and he was not seriously injured. Secret Service snipers shot and killed Crooks at the scene. A man in the crowd was also killed in the shooting and two other participants were seriously injured, according to the Secret Service.
The FBI also said Monday that the agency has completed a search of Crooks’ vehicle and home. In an update to the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday, the FBI said his vehicle and home contained some bomb-making materials.
The shooting, which is being investigated as an assassination attempt, has raised concerns about Secret Service security protocols among members of Congress.
“The bottom line is that this is massive negligence, to the point where I have to speculate about what was intentional and what wasn’t,” Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida) said Sunday.
The suspected shooter fired an AR-style rifle from an “elevated position outside the rally site,” the Secret Service said, raising questions about how the suspect managed to get close enough to the former president. The roof, where the shooter was positioned, was less than 150 meters from where the former president was speaking, the AP noted.
President Biden ordered a review of security protocols at Saturday’s rally.
Both Biden and Trump shared messages of unity following the shooting.
“Only God prevented the unthinkable from happening,” Trump said.
“At this time, it is more important than ever that we stand together and show our true character as Americans by remaining strong and determined and not allowing evil to win,” he said. wrote in a post in Social Truth. “I truly love our country and I love all of you, and I look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week in Wisconsin.”
The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee began on Monday as scheduled, where Trump announced that Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will be his running mate.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
