The U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania has empaneled a grand jury to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13, which killed retired firefighter Corey Comperatore and wounded three others, including Trump. According to a report from Human Events, a records request from America First Legal was denied because the records in question are “within the scope of a grand jury subpoena.”
The letter, which was penned by the Community College of Allegheny County in response to attorney Wally Zimolong, denied a request for deceased gunman Thomas Matthew-Crooks’ records pertaining to his student files, records, documents, communication, disciplinary records, or other data containing his name.
“Please be advised that your request is denied on the basis that it requests records that relate to an ongoing criminal investigation, which are exempt from disclosure,” the letter reads.
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“Specifically,” the letter continues, “the records that you have requested are within the scope of a grand jury subpoena issued to CCAC by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and which the U.S. Attorney’s Office has confirmed relate to an ongoing criminal investigation.”
The purpose of the grand jury remains unclear, though they are generally used to consider criminal charges against a target or range of targets. The report from Human Events is the first indication that charges are being considered in relation to the shooting.
Human Events further reported that the Crooks family has sought legal representation. A number of Secret service agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office, which covers the Butler, Pennsylvania region, have also been placed on leave in the aftermath of the assassination attempt.
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In addition to the report, the FBI also shared new information relating to the investigation into Crooks. During a small press conference attended by a handful of reporters, the FBI revealed that Crooks made a number of searches relating to fertilizer bombs and “how do remote detonators work.
“Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, told reporters that Crooks engaged in weeks of planning for the event. Crooks became “hyper-focused” on Trump’s campaign rally in Butler once it was announced, Rojek said.
“When this event was announced, the Trump rally was announced, early in July, he became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity,” he added.
(FREE RED HAT: “Impeached. Arrested. Convicted. Shot. Still Standing”)
