Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump has taken the plunge and agreed to an interview with the FBI about the assassination attempt that occurred at his Pennsylvania campaign rally. One might wonder, with the FBI’s history of generating little assistance for Republicans during such meetings, why Trump would willingly step into this hornet’s nest. However, perhaps the former president is hoping to set the record straight on the agency that many in his party feel has become a bit too cozy with the left.
In a briefing that could only be described as an FBI special, officials revealed new information about the suspected shooter — a man who apparently thought he was shopping for a gun collection worthy of an action movie, using pseudonyms to purchase over 25 firearms. The FBI insists their investigation is focused on piecing together a timeline of the gunman’s actions rather than attempting to evaluate their own performance. One wonders if their timeline will also include a chapter on how to avoid becoming the butt of a national joke.
FBI Briefings Have Almost Always Gone Sideways For The GOP, So Why Is Trump Doing One? https://t.co/LqAwKn9kYL
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 31, 2024
Kevin Rojeck, the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office, expressed that interviewing victims is just part of the agency’s normal process. While this might seem like a comforting approach to some, many Republicans see it as just another opportunity for the FBI to highlight their favorite pastime: undermining conservative figures. Rojeck’s assertion that Trump is a ‘victim’ in this saga might just make the former president snicker — after all, Trump has often portrayed himself as a victim of the very agency now knocking on his door.
The backdrop for all of this is the unfolding chaos regarding FBI Director Christopher Wray’s comments about whether an injury to Trump’s ear was caused by shrapnel or a bullet. Trump has taken the opportunity to roast Wray on his favorite platform, Truth Social, slamming the director for being more interested in targeting “January 6 Patriots” and raiding Mar-a-Lago than doing his job. This encounter raises an eyebrow about the credibility of the FBI, which has taken more hits in the trust department than a piñata at a child’s birthday party.
Historically, GOP interactions with the FBI have been fraught with peril. A well-remembered moment includes the infamous leak of former Director James Comey’s briefing with Trump in 2017 regarding Russian interference. This meeting, which morphed into a media frenzy over the Steele Dossier, turned out to be nothing more than fiction. The whole affair has left many wondering if FBI briefings should come with a disclaimer about imaginary friends and their supposed international escapades.
Moreover, the FBI’s attempt to meddle in the Hunter Biden investigation left Republicans seething once again. The bureau was accused of conducting a briefing that did nothing but lead to a leak labeling concerns about Hunter’s business dealings as “Russian disinformation.” This response has been a convenient catch-all for the Biden administration to ward off any serious investigation into his son’s questionable activities—an act that reeks of political bias.
Even amidst these turbulent waters, the FBI moves forward with its inquiry into the assassination attempt on Trump. The agency is set to have its chat with the former president on Thursday. Whether this meeting will yield any actual results or just add to the ongoing saga of the FBI’s dubious reputation among conservatives remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: the odyssey continues, and if nothing else, the conservative base will have plenty of material to work with the next time they roast the FBI over a backyard barbecue.
