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FBI surprised how Trump’s would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks fired off many shots before Secret Service killed him at rally
New York Post ^ | July 14, 2024 | Patrick Reilly

Posted on 07/14/2024 12:48:16 AM PDT by Angelino97

Law enforcement officials admitted it was “surprising” how the gunman was able to get so many shots off in the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump before he was taken out by Secret Service snipers.

During a press conference early Sunday, officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police deferred several questions about security to the Secret Service — who were notably absent.

When asked if he was surprised at the number of shots the gunman was able to take at a former president, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, said: “It is surprising but, to get all the details of that will come out later in the investigation.”

“The Secret Service really needs to answer that question,” he added, noting that they are in charge of securing the scene and the FBI were just there to support them.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens attempted to offer a defense for the Secret Service over the security lapse that nearly caused Trump his life.

“In their defense, what I would want to say is it is incredibly difficult to have a venue open to the public and secure that against any possible threat against a determined attacker, that’s a huge lift to try and do it,” Bidens told reporters.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New York; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: assassinationattempt; bidensfault; dei; doj; fallguys; fbi; feminism; fib; hillarysfault; incompetence; maxwellyearick; merrickgarland; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkpost; nlz; obamasfault; pennsylvania; secretservice; thomascrooks; thomasmatthewcrooks; thomasmcrooks; trump; trumpshotbutokay
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To: PghBaldy
I was shocked how many women were involved in the detail. Insane. Is Biden “protected” by dainty ladies, or burly men?

I spent some time in DC in the 80s, and got to see the SS at a couple of public events. Back then the SS agents were all, or almost all male. It was was very noticeable that the agents close to the President, and likely to appear on camera, were young, good looking, with pleasant, or at least neutral, demeanors. The SS agents out in the crowd were older, more intimidating, and tended to scowl.

141 posted on 07/14/2024 7:26:22 AM PDT by Pilsner
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To: PghBaldy

I totally agree with you. As Trump was being hustled off the stage, it was a female SS agent to his side who he was leaning on. She was very short in stature and his head and upper torso were completely open for anyone to take another shot. There should not be women in his detail. He’s a big man—6’3”. They’re too small to cover and protect him.

Just more DEI nonsense. Little girlies with long ponytails everywhere including gathered around the SUV that took him away from the venue.


142 posted on 07/14/2024 7:26:35 AM PDT by PA Presbyterian (Never Surrender!)
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To: 21twelve

The ‘building’ he was on looked like a ‘shipping container’ being repurposed. They do have built in ladders.


143 posted on 07/14/2024 7:33:38 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: ponygirl

Yeah...that’s really weird. The shooter DOES look like Yearick. Incredibly similar.


144 posted on 07/14/2024 7:58:26 AM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: 21twelve
From the WSJ:

Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that God "prevented the unthinkable from happening," the morning after he survived a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. The Secret Service shot and killed the suspected gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Authorities also found explosive devices in the car he had been driving, according to people briefed on the investigation.

Federal authorities say the shooting was an assassination attempt. A WSJ reporter was at the rally as the shooting unfolded.

One spectator was killed and two others were critically injured after "multiple shots" were fired, the Secret Service said on social media.

Trump's health: Trump is doing well and is grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action, the Republican National Committee said. Trump confirmed he will speak at the Republican National Convention this week. President Biden said there is “no place in America for this sort of violence. It’s sick.”

The suspected gunman: Crooks used a firearm that had been purchased by his father and explosive devices were found in the car he was driving, according to people familiar with the investigation. Law enforcement are trying to determine a motive and how this could have happened at what should have been a highly secure event.

Investigations: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has been called on to appear before the House Oversight Committee on July 22. Attorney General Merrick Garland promised to bring the full force of the Justice Department to investigate the shooting, which he called “an attack on our democracy.”

Messages of concern and support: Top Democrats and top Republicans as well as former presidents have all decried political violence. Global leaders also condemned the attack. Some Republicans blamed the shooting on Biden's rhetoric. Trump said the motive wasn't clear.

145 posted on 07/14/2024 7:59:49 AM PDT by CFW
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To: PghBaldy

I saw the supervisor of the group come storming out and then watched Mo(Maureen), Larry(Loretta), and Curly(Carlita) spin in circles trying to form a line and come to attention.

Who hired these clownettes ???


146 posted on 07/14/2024 8:47:50 AM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: roving
They did have a drone.

Did anyone tell them that the drone has a camera onboard ?

147 posted on 07/14/2024 8:49:44 AM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: UCANSEE2

They were shocked to find that out


148 posted on 07/14/2024 8:55:39 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: dforest
I saw them drag someone out of that crowd yesterday and it wasn’t a guy on the roof.

It was probably the guy who was telling the 'security' that there was a guy on the roof with a rifle. They want to , you know, 'debrief' him.

149 posted on 07/14/2024 9:04:36 AM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: UCANSEE2

Someone else said it could have been one of the injured or dead people.

Maybe


150 posted on 07/14/2024 9:05:50 AM PDT by dforest
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

They’re probably gameplanning the next one.


151 posted on 07/14/2024 9:06:33 AM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: dp0622

If you’d told me just four years ago that this would be the discussion I’d have told you that you were nuts.
But here we are faced with two possibilities and both are horrid and we have to hope that it’s just incompetence while knowing it likely isn’t.


152 posted on 07/14/2024 9:08:24 AM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: MayflowerMadam

Admittedly, yeah.
It probably is.
Just wish it wasn’t so.


153 posted on 07/14/2024 9:08:52 AM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: MayflowerMadam

Same with South Jersey. On the first day of deer season more than 1/2 the boys in my 7th grade classes were absent. The final 3 years of my teaching career they got smart and made the first and last day of deer season 1/2 days.


154 posted on 07/14/2024 9:12:25 AM PDT by mware
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To: dforest

Normally they don’t ‘drag’ injured or dead people out of a crowd.


155 posted on 07/14/2024 9:18:58 AM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: UCANSEE2

I didn’t think that either at the time, but then there has been no mention of it.

Now I understand right after it happened why we heard the media saying that it could be related to an incident outside the venue.

After seeing that TMZ video I can see that is was directly related.


156 posted on 07/14/2024 9:23:15 AM PDT by dforest
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To: Swanks

Are they kidding? The only thing they are surprised about is that Trump’s still alive. Its not like they didn’t do everything under the sun to let that kid take his shot. 148 yards with an AR is a chip shot for anyone with any training.


157 posted on 07/14/2024 9:30:25 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: NoLibZone

You nailed it. Even if you believe this was just incompetence the level of it is breathtaking.


158 posted on 07/14/2024 9:34:58 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: CFW

Of course they always have explosive devices in the vehicle. The Feds need to get a new playbook.


159 posted on 07/14/2024 9:56:57 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Darksheare

The level of transparency on this hit is breathtaking. They hardly bothered to try to cover up.


160 posted on 07/14/2024 9:59:42 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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