The FBI continues to try to determine why a man tried to kill the Republican White House candidate at a rally on Saturday Donald Trump, although he had already managed to gain access to the shooter’s phone and He interrogated up to a hundred witnesses to the incident.

More than 48 hours after the incident, questions remain about what was the motive for the attempted murder and how a 20-year-old man was able to climb onto a roof and fire up to eight shots before being shot dead by Secret Service agents.

In a statement to CNN, the US Secretary of Homeland Security: Alejandro Mayorkasacknowledged on Monday that there had been a “failure” in the security surrounding Trump, president from 2017 to 2021, and that he was officially declared the Republican nominee for the November election on Monday.

“When I say that something like this can’t happen, “We are talking about failure” said Mayorkas, who as head of Homeland Security leads the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting U.S. politicians.

The rifle his father bought eleven years ago.

All that is known at this time is that the attacker, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, acted alone and used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle legally purchased by his father. in 2013, that is, eleven years ago, as he said this Monday Washington Post A source familiar with the investigation.

As for political views, it is only known that Crookes He was registered as a Republican voter. However, election records show that someone with his name and address made a $15 donation to the Democratic organization Progressive Participation Project in 2021.

In a statement this Monday The FBI announced that it had gained access to Crooks’ phone. so now agents will be able to access the correspondence you had at the time before the attack. They are also analyzing other electronic devices belonging to the accused.

In addition, FBI agents are currently analyzing bomb making material found in car and the place of residence of the attacker.

At the moment, the FBI has conducted about 100 interviews with law enforcement officers who was at the rally where Trump was attacked, as well as participants in the event and other witnesses, as detailed in a statement Monday.

The assassination attempt on Trump, the first such incident since Ronald Reagan suffered in 1981, has raised important questions about possible breakdowns in Secret Service security protocols and forced the United States government to announce an independent investigation.

As NBC reported on Monday, the US Secret Service had identified within days as a potential roof safety hazard The perpetrator climbed to the top of the hill, which is just 135 meters from where Trump was scheduled to speak at the rally, but outside the event’s security perimeter.

The Secret Service said security had been breached at the building from which the shot was fired. responsibility of local authorities, although the district attorney denied this version.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said this in an interview with the network on Monday. ABC that local authorities were responsible for protecting the building and confirmed that local police were inside and Crooks was on the roof.

In this interview Cheatle took “responsibility” for the incident as the director of the agency, but He said he would remain in his post.

Safety devices for candidates

As the investigation progresses and amid concerns about possible similar incidents, US President Joe Biden on Monday ordered provide presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. with a Secret Service device and strengthen Trump’s position.

As Secretary of State Mayorkas explained at a White House press conference, Trump’s defense enhancements include measures for the Republican National Convention, that began today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, such as increased fencing around the facility and recognition technology.

Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent against Trump and Biden in the November election, said several months ago that the request was rejected obtain protection from the Secret Service.