PITTSBURGH, Pa. (KDKA) — The gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump planned to use explosives to create a distraction and escape the rally site, a prominent lawmaker has revealed.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that Thomas Crooks had a detonation in his body and two bombs in his body. your vehicle.
“His plan to assassinate the president, create a distraction by blowing up his vehicle on the other side of the property, and then he could escape,” said McCaul, who served three terms as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
CBS News had reported in the past that an AR-type rifle, a remote transmitter and a mobile phone were discovered on the shooter’s body, while two explosive devices, a drone, a tactical vest and four magazines of the same ammunition used in the shooting. were discovered in Crooks’ vehicle.
The US Secret Service temporarily came under scrutiny and questions arose about how the assassination attempt could have occurred at such a high-profile event.
Kimberly Cheatle resigned as director of the Secret Service following tension from lawmakers who called on her to resign following the attempted assassination of the former president.
Trump said he would continue holding rallies, but with greater protection.
He is expected to hold a rally later this week at Harrisburg’s New Holland Arena, the first in Pennsylvania since the shooting.
Last week, Trump said he would return to Butler County for a rally honoring Corey Comperatore, the guy who was shot and killed at the rally. The other two men injured in the shooting were released from the hospital.
Trump said when and where the new rally would take place in Butler County.