(NewsNation) — Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf wants to know how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot Donald Trump.
Wolf, who served in Trump’s administration, believes Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, should step down because she lacks leadership and accountability.
“What’s troubling here is a communications issue. Once local police identified there was someone on that roof … the (former) president should have been ushered off stage,” Wolf said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” “It appears a number of mistakes were made here.”
Lawmakers met with Cheatle at the RNC, though according to Wolf, she didn’t have any answers.
“It’s a bad look,” Wolf said. “It’s not what leadership looks like. It’s not what accountability looks like, and I don’t know how she survives all of this.”
A senior congressional source directly briefed on the attempted assassination told NewsNation that suspected shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks had a “major depressive disorder diagnosis” and that the Secret Service identified him 60 minutes before the shooting as a person of interest.
Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found inside a vehicle linked to the suspect in the Trump rally shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home. The two officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Secret Service sources also tell NewsNation the working theory right now is that the countersniper didn’t initially shoot the gunman because the sniper thought the gunman was a police officer.
Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks?
Crooks is from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 60 miles from where the rally was held in Butler, Pennsylvania. NewsNation has learned neighbors of the suspected shooter were evacuated from their homes Sunday in Bethel Park.
The shooter’s parents have been cooperating with law enforcement. They told investigators the 20-year-old gunman didn’t appear to have friends or political leanings, a law enforcement official told CNN.
Per state records, he’s a registered Republican, but the Associated Press reports he donated $15 to a progressive PAC the day President Joe Biden was sworn in.
Crooks was a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the organization said in a statement Sunday.
The center also said workers were “shocked and saddened” to hear he was involved.
“This morning, Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center became aware that Thomas Matthew Crooks, a dietary aide at the Center, was the alleged shooter in the assassination attempt on Former President Trump,” Marcie Grimm, the administrator for the center, said.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement as Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern and his background check was clean,” she continued. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials at this time. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further on any specifics. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Former President Trump and the victims impacted by this terrible tragedy. We condemn all acts of violence.”
The Secret Service said one rally attendee was killed, and two were critically injured.
The deceased victim was identified Sunday as former Butler County Fire Chief Corey Comperatore. The 50-year-old father was protecting his family from the bullets before he was struck, according to his sister, Dawn, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday.
The agency said Crooks fired from “an elevated position outside the rally venue.” All three victims are adult males, police said.
The FBI said they have no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat.