Trump assassination bid: FBI chief flags 'elevated threat' in senate testimony

FBI Director Christopher Wray, while testifying before the Republican-led House judiciary committee on Wednesday (July 24), said that the United States is in an "elevated threat environment" in the wake of the July 13 assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump.

"The attempted assassination of the former president was an attack on our democracy and our democratic process and we will not and do not tolerate political violence of any kind, especially a despicable account of this magnitude," Wray said.

The FBI director said that the bureau agents are working "tirelessly" to learn what happened at the rally.

"We are going to leave no stone unturned," he said. "The shooter may be deceased but the FBI's investigation is very much ongoing."

Wray's promise comes in the wake of now-former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's appearance before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee earlier this week on Monday (July 22).

Cheatle repeatedly refused to answer questions and cited the FBI's investigation as the reason for her inability to provide lawmakers with certain information. She resigned on Wednesday (July 23) after a massive uproar on her responses, or lack thereof, during Monday's testimony.

Wray was asked whether Trump's would-be assassinThomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired eight bullets before he was killed by a Secret Service sniper. The FBI chiefconfirmed that there were eight cartridges on the roof and later said that Crooks also had a drone.

The FBI is still trying to find out how he was able to fire so many shots, Wray said. He added that Crooks searched online about the assassination of former US PresidentJohn F. Kennedy.

"Obviously I understand very much the intense interest and focus on the Secret Service's performance, actions, decision-making, etc.," the FBI chiefsaid.

Also watch |Trump assassination attempt: Mystery persists over Thomas Crooks' motive

Wray said the bureau has not found any accomplices of Trump's would-be assassin "at this time" but added that more details may emerge once the investigation is concluded.

He alsopushed back on lawmakers' threats to defund the FBI and described potential cuts to its funding as "incredibly short-sighted."

(With inputs from agencies)