TOI World Desk
Trump took to Truth Social, blasting Wray for his comments and alleging that the FBI had failed to properly investigate the incident.“FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he wasn’t sure if I was hit by shrapnel, glass, or a bullet (the FBI never even checked!), but he was sure that Crooked Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘uneventful’ – Wrong!” Trump wrote. He also accused Wray of being out of touch with the reality of crime in the US, asserting that the FBI director’s focus was misplaced, according to New York Post.
The ex-president maintained that he had been struck by a bullet while standing at the podium during the outdoor rally.
The controversy erupted following a House Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday, during which Wray responded to questions about the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Wray noted the uncertainty regarding the cause of Trump’s ear wound, stating, “With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.”
Trump, who appointed Wray to his position, vehemently disagreed with this assessment. “There was no glass, there was no shrapnel. The hospital called it a ‘bullet wound to the ear,’ and that is what it was,” he asserted.
The FBI’s shooting reconstruction team is currently investigating the incident. Agents are examining metal fragments and other debris recovered from the stage area to determine the exact nature of the injury. The shooting, which occurred during Trump’s outdoor rally, injured three other people and killed one attendee. The assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was quickly neutralised by Secret Service agents.
Trump’s fiery response underscores his ongoing criticism of federal agencies, accusing them of failing to address pressing security issues and focusing instead on politically motivated investigations. The FBI’s investigation into the rally shooting continues, with authorities aiming to piece together the events surrounding the attack and the motivations of the would-be assassin.