House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) urged the FBI to conclude its investigation into two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump, asking whether these incidents were tied to Iran. Speaking on CBS News's "Face the Nation" on Oct. 6, Turner addressed the cases involving Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania in July, and Ryan Wesley Routh, who allegedly planned to kill Trump at his Florida golf course but was intercepted by a Secret Service agent.
During the interview, CBS host Margaret Brennan noted that there was no proven connection between these assassination attempts and the Iranian state or political actors. Turner responded by clarifying that just because no ties have been confirmed doesn't mean the investigation has ruled out such links. He emphasized the importance of the FBI finishing its inquiry to determine if either plot was connected to Iran’s alleged plans to target Trump, as the administration has suggested.
Turner also called for a strong response from the U.S. if Iran were found to be involved, calling such actions an act of war. He expressed doubt that the FBI could definitively conclude that both attackers acted independently, pushing for more clarity and truth from the investigation.
Regarding the Crooks case, the FBI has not publicly revealed any motive, although they initially indicated Crooks acted alone before he was shot by Secret Service snipers. Similarly, the motive behind Routh's actions remains unclear. However, court documents reveal that Routh wrote a book in 2023 encouraging Iran to assassinate Trump for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. He also allegedly left a note with an acquaintance detailing his intent to kill Trump, criticizing his handling of U.S.-Iran relations.
Routh's social media posts showed strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, and he had reportedly traveled to Ukraine multiple times, attempting to recruit fighters for the cause.
In September, Trump's campaign confirmed that he had been briefed by U.S. intelligence officials about specific threats from Iran. In response, Trump shared on social media that Iranian attempts on his life had been thwarted but warned of future dangers. The FBI has not yet responded to requests for comment on these investigations.
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