When it comes to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony is not supported by his team in a crucial aspect.
In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Wray suggested twice that Trump was not hit by a bullet fired by would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. However, less than a week later, Wray’s second-in-command contradicted him, thanks to Republican Sen. John Kennedy’s questioning, told CBS News.
During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, Sen. Kennedy asked FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate directly if anyone at the FBI doubted that Trump had been struck by a bullet. Abbate’s response was unequivocal.
“Is there any doubt in your mind, or in the collective mind of the FBI, that President Trump was shot in the ear by a bullet fired by the assassin Crooks?” Kennedy asked, emphasizing the word “bullet.”
“Senator, there’s absolutely no doubt in the FBI’s mind whether former President Trump was hit with a bullet and wounded in the ear. No doubt. There never has been,” Abbate replied. “I’ve been part of this investigation since the very beginning, and that has never been raised.”
Kennedy, known for his colorful speech and outspoken opinions, continued to press the point with a touch of sarcasm. “It wasn’t a space laser? It wasn’t a murder hornet? It wasn’t Sasquatch?” he asked. “It was a bullet?”
“It was a bullet, senator,” Abbate confirmed.
“Fired by Crooks, that hit President Trump in the ear and almost killed him?” Kennedy persisted.
“One hundred percent, senator,” Abbate confirmed.
The exchange highlighted a stark contradiction within the FBI’s leadership. In his testimony, Wray claimed, “There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.” He reiterated the uncertainty, referring to “a bullet or some shrapnel.”
The contradiction raises an important question: Why would Wray downplay the nature of the projectile that almost killed Trump? The exact description of the projectile seems secondary to the fact that an assassination attempt occurred. The attempt, which left one person dead and two others critically wounded, was deadly serious.
Wray’s testimony seemed to undermine the gravity of the situation, perhaps giving Democrats and the media a talking point to diminish the severity of the attempt on Trump’s life. In doing so, Wray not only failed to clarify the event but also risked tarnishing his own credibility. His deputy’s clear and definitive statements made Wray appear either misinformed or deceptive.
Given that no one ascends to the head of the FBI by being a fool, the implications of this contradiction are serious. The discrepancy between Wray’s testimony and Abbate’s statements suggests a significant issue within the FBI’s communication and transparency regarding the assassination attempt on former President Trump.