House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) has called on the FBI to provide a conclusion regarding the potential link between two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump and Iran. Turner made this statement during an interview with CBS News’s ”Face the Nation” on October 6. He urged the FBI to release its findings from investigations into Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot at Trump during a Pennsylvania rally in July, and Ryan Wesley Routh, who allegedly hid at Trump’s Florida golf course with a rifle for 12 hours intending to kill him.
During the interview, CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan stated that there is currently no evidence linking these assassination attempts to Iran or any political actors. However, Turner emphasized that just because there is no substantiated evidence does not mean that there are no ties. He stressed the importance of concluding these investigations and determining whether they have any connection to the alleged plot by Iran to assassinate Trump.
Turner expressed his belief that it would be unlikely for either individual to have acted alone and called on the FBI to reach a definitive conclusion. The motive behind Crooks’ attempt remains undisclosed by the FBI, although they previously stated that he acted alone before being killed by Secret Service snipers. As for Routh, court documents revealed that he wrote a self-published book encouraging Iran to assassinate Trump due to his decision in 2018 regarding the Iran nuclear deal.
In September, it was reported that U.S. intelligence officials had briefed Trump about plots against him, including specific threats from Iran. The former president’s campaign also confirmed these threats and highlighted increased attacks coordinated by Iranian regime in recent months.
The article did not receive a response from the FBI at publication time regarding their comment on this matter.