By Steve Neavling
FBI Director Christopher Wray will testify Wednesday about the bureau’s investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump, as lawmakers at a congressional hearing are expected to seek new information about the gunman’s motive and background.
The hearing before the House Judiciary Committee will mark Wray’s most comprehensive remarks yet about the shooting as agents continue to investigate the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Although the hearing had been scheduled before the July 13 shooting, lawmakers are expected to bombard Wray’s with questions about the shooting.
The security lapses that allowed the gunman to access a nearby rooftop and fire multiple shots at Trump resulted in the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Tuesday. One rally attendee was killed, two were critically injured, and Trump sustained a minor injury when a bullet grazed his ear.
On Monday, Cheatle testified before the House Oversight Committee, pledging accountability and labeling the attack as the “most significant operational failure” for the Secret Service in decades. She refused to answer questions about the gunman’s actions prior to the attack, citing the ongoing FBI investigation.
Whether Wray plans to offer new insight wasn’t clear Wednesday morning.
The FBI is investigating the shooting.
