Donald Trump is set to meet with the FBI for an interview after it was revealed that counter snipers had identified would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks 90 minutes before his attempt on Trump’s life.
According to the Associated Press, Trump has agreed to the FBI interview after the agency’s repeated requests over the past few days. This development comes as text messages from the counter snipers involved have come to light.
In text messages obtained by the New York Times, a counter sniper texted at 4:26 p.m. that he had noticed a man, later identified as Crooks, sitting at a picnic table. “Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know. I’m just letting you know because you see me go out with my rifle and put it in my car so he knows you guys are up there,” the counter sniper, who was ending his shift, wrote in a group chat. The chat included multiple agents on the team assigned to protect Trump that day.
The sniper ending his shift described Crooks as “sitting to the direct right on a picnic table about 50 yards from the exit” in a message sent at 4:27 p.m., just over 90 minutes before Crooks fired the shots. Two other counter snipers acknowledged the message.
Around 5:38 p.m., another counter sniper sent messages to the chat, including pictures of Crooks. “Kid leaning around building we are in,” one wrote. “I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out. I lost sight of him.” Photos of Crooks outside the building were also shared in the chat.
It has also been revealed that Crooks was in the area for three hours prior to the rally. Despite his presence, he was never stopped or questioned. He later climbed onto a roof and attempted to assassinate Trump at 6:12 p.m. from that vantage point. Crooks struck Trump in the ear, critically injured 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, and killed 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, who died shielding his wife and daughters from the bullets.