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--:-- [Music transitions to a serious tone]
--:-- John Bickley: 24 hours after the shocking attempted assassination of Donald Trump, new details are beginning to emerge about the shooter, his actions, and the rally-goer who was tragically killed. Why was the shooter able to get such a clear shot? And what have we heard so far from former President Trump?
--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Sunday, July 14th, and this is a special edition of Morning Wire. Here with all the latest on the assassination attempt against Trump is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Hey, Cabot, so a story that's captivated and stunned the world and a lot more details coming out. What have we learned in the past day?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, we now know the shooter was Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old who'd been working in a nursing home about 40 miles outside of Butler, PA. His employer said he was a quiet worker with a clean background check. The FBI, which is handling the investigation, says they're still trying to piece together a more detailed motive. But confirmed that he used what they described as an AR-15 style rifle, which was reportedly purchased by the shooter's father earlier this year.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Law enforcement also confirmed that they found at least two explosive devices in the shooter's car, along with bomb making materials in his home. We've also now learned the identity of the attendee who was killed. 50-year-old Corey Comparator was sitting in the bleachers behind President Trump. His family says he was struck by gunfire while shielding his young daughter and wife.
--:-- Georgia Howe: [reading from a statement] Here's Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro this afternoon. Corey was a girl dad Corey was a firefighter Cory went to church every Sunday Cory loved his community And most especially Cory loved his family Cory was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Comparator's daughter said on social media, quote, he died a real-life superhero. They're not going to tell you how quickly he threw my mom and I to the ground. They're not going to tell you that he shielded my body from the bullet that came at us. He loved his family enough to take a bullet for us.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: For their part, the Trump campaign set up a fundraiser for the family and other victims. It's currently raised well over a million dollars. Which is a heartbreaking loss for his family. I can't imagine. And our prayers are with them.
--:-- John Bickley: Now, we have heard more from President Trump since last night. What has he said so far?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Right. Trump released a new statement this morning saying, quote, It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness. He went on to again offer condolences to the victims before saying, quote, In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined and not allowing evil to win.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: I truly love our country and love you all and look forward to speaking to our great nation this week from Wisconsin.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We also saw an emotional statement from former First Lady Melania Trump, who said that while, quote, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one. When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life and Barron's life were on the brink of devastating change.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: She went on to call the shooter a, quote, monster, but urged all Americans to use the moment to reunite and ascend above the hate.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Wow. We also heard a bit more from President Biden today. What did he have to say?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: President Biden returned from Delaware last evening after the news broke and was briefed on the latest details this morning by the Secret Service and FBI directors as well as DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Speaking from the White House flanked by Vice President Harris and Attorney General Merrick Garland President Biden had this to say.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Last night, I spoke with Donald Trump. I'm sincerely grateful that he's doing well and recovering. And we had a short but good conversation. Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: He went on to warn Americans against speculating about a motive for the assassination attempt, urging them to leave that up to the FBI. Let the FBI do their job and their partner agencies do their job. I'm instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift. And the investigators will have every resource they need to get this done.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, in addition to pulling their TV ads from the airwaves, the White House also canceled scheduled events on Monday and Tuesday for both President Biden and Vice President Harris. Remember, this is a campaign that has routinely painted the election as a battle between democracy and authoritarianism. President Biden has compared Trump routinely to Hitler and other fascist leaders and labeled him the biggest, quote, threat to our country.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Now, we've heard rumblings. The campaign will tone down that rhetoric a bit once they pick back up. But we'll have to wait and see ultimately what changes, if any, they make to their messaging following this shocking turn. It's going to be interesting to watch.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Let's talk about the Secret Service response. No doubt the men and women protecting the president showed immense bravery, but there are also questions about how something like this could happen on their watch. What more are we hearing about that?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yeah, the former president and his family were quick to praise the heroic actions of those Secret Service agents who risked their lives to shield him as bullets flew. The footage leaves no doubt about their bravery. But the big question on a lot of folks' minds is how a man with a gun was able to access a rooftop just 130 yards from Donald Trump.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: There are also questions over why the shooter wasn't taken out earlier. To that point numerous witnesses say they saw him minutes before he opened fire and alerted law enforcement of his presence. Here one video taken just before the shooting where attendees can be heard frantically yelling quote he got a gun He's on the roof just before shots ring out. He's got a gun! He's on the roof! Stay down! Stay down!
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Other footage shows Secret Service snipers appearing to watch the shooter from their own rooftop perch for around 45 seconds, but failing to open fire until the gunman shot first. Now, some Secret Service officials have said they are a reactive force and are not trained to fire first, but others questioned why he was allowed on the rooftop in the first place and why he was not taken out once it was clear he had a gun.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A number of Republican lawmakers say the agency has failed and that the shooting was proof the Secret Service is ill-prepared. To that point, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said he's already launched an investigation into the security failure and would be calling upon Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheadle to offer testimony before the House on July 22nd.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So plenty of folks in Washington want to get to the bottom of this.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that's not the only action we've seen from Congress in response to this attack, correct?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Right. On Sunday morning, Democrat Richie Torres and Republican Mike Lawler announced that they would be proposing bipartisan legislation to beef up the Secret Service details of both Trump and Biden and offer the same protection for independent RFK Jr., who to this point has not been granted a Secret Service detail despite numerous requests from his campaign.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The two men said, quote, anything less would be a disservice to our democracy. We'll keep an eye out for the details of that legislation and what sort of support it garners.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: And one more note, President Biden announced that he'd be ordering the Secret Service to expand their operations surrounding Donald Trump. The president will also be giving another longer address this evening from the Oval Office.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, we'll definitely tune in for that. Cabot, thank you so much for reporting.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Anytime.
--:-- John Bickley: That was Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, and this has been a special edition of Morning Wire.
