On July 13, an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in a small Pennsylvania town ignited numerous investigations and considerable political fallout. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, R, released new footage Tuesday, July 23, from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit that provides insight into the events leading up to and following the attack by Thomas Crooks.
The footage shows moments where law enforcement officials were next to Crooks’ body on a rooftop, discussing prior sightings of Crooks acting suspiciously. It shows potential security missteps, including indications that local officials and the U.S. Secret Service might have been aware of Crooks’ presence before the attack.
In the footage, an officer is heard discussing how a sniper had previously spotted and sent photos of the suspect. Crooks was killed by counter-snipers after injuring Trump and killing a bystander.
Grassley stated that this new evidence indicates serious lapses in security protocols. In response to these failures and mounting political pressure, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for the oversight.
In related developments, Matthew Crooks, the father of Thomas Crooks, was seen in public on July 22 for the first time since the incident. When approached by reporters from Fox News Digital, he declined to comment.
“No comment,” Matthew Crooks said. “We’re going to release a statement when our legal counsel advises us to do so. Until then, we have no comment. We just want to try to take care of ourselves right now. Please, just give us our space.”
The Crooks family is reportedly cooperating with the FBI to help determine the motive for the shooting.
Hours before the attack, Crooks’ parents had contacted local police, concerned about their son’s whereabouts. It is unclear if they knew he had access to his father’s AR-15.
Investigators discovered Crooks’ cellphone and a transmitter near where he was neutralized. According to the FBI, the devices were connected to explosives in the vehicle he drove to the event.
Authorities are currently examining Crooks’ phone and social media activity as part of the ongoing investigation, but findings have not yet been released.