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FBI Director Christopher Wray's alarming drone revelation about Trump's shooter

1 month ago 12

By Dailymail.Com Political Reporters

Published: 12:42 BST, 24 July 2024 | Updated: 17:57 BST, 24 July 2024

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President Joe Biden will address the nation at 8pm tonight from the White House to explain the reasons for his extraordinary decision to withdraw from the 2024 race.

The 81-year-old was seen for the first time in six days as he returned to Washington D.C. from his Delaware beach home, while Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail as she looked to build support from voters.

Meanwhile Donald Trump will keep campaigning with a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address Congress for a speech that has sparked controversy on Capitol Hill.

Follow DailyMail.com’s U.S. politics blog for all the updates from Washington D.C. and around the country.

Trump leads Harris by 3 points in CNN poll

Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris by 49 percent to 46 percent in a new CNN poll.

The poll was taken on July 22 and 23, after Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed his vice president.

It surveyed the same voters who had given Trump a 6-point lead over Biden in June.

 Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump walks offstage after  speaking at a campaign rally at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Trump's campaign event is the first joint event with his recent vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and the first campaign rally since the attempted assassination attempt his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

FBI Director reveals Trump shooter used drone and had a remote bomb detonator

FBI Director Chris Wray stunning revealed bombshell details about former President Donald Trump's assassination attempt, including what devices shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks used.

Crooks, who shot Trump in the ear just 400 feet away from the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 from the roof of a nearby building just outside the security perimeter of the event.

Wray revealed that investigators found Crooks had a drone that he used to survey the scene hours before the event started, which was recovered from his car parked nearby.

He flew the drone around 4 p.m. over the area of the rally close to '200 yards' from the stage to survey the scene. Trump took the stage around 6:03 p.m., over two hours later.

The FBI has also recovered three 'explosive devices' in possession of Crooks.

They were 'relatively crude devices' but had the ability 'to be detonated remotely,' Wray said.

Democrats boycott Netanyahu as pro-Gaza protestors flood D.C. streets

Close to 100 Democrats are expected to skip Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Capitol speech due to tensions over the ongoing war with the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

Most notable absences include Vice President Kamala Harris, who would have presided over the Senate, but is claiming a scheduling conflict, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the second most powerful Democratic Senator Dick Durbin D-Ill.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is also planning to boycott the speech, calling the prime minister a 'war criminal' amid the bloody conflict that has seen loss of life in Gaza.

Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is eradicated following the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel by the terrorist who raped women, killed and beheaded children and took hundreds of Israelis hostage, including several Americans.

Police have estimated that up to 10,000 protestors will be descending upon Capitol Hill today to call for an end to the 'genocide' in Gaza and demand a ceasefire.

Due to security concerns and a waning number of U.S. Capitol Police officers, over 200 New York City Police Department officers were deployed down to Washington, D.C.

More protesters arrive in Washington for Netanyahu's speech

Hillary Clinton: How I paved the way for Kamala

The former first lady and secretary of state was defeated by Barack Obama in the Democratic primary in 2008, and by Trump at the 2016 election.

But that didn't stop Clinton from boasting that she 'won the national popular vote' in 2016 while giving  Harris her enthusiastic support and predicting she can become the first female US president.

Clinton, 76, compared herself to Harris in a piece for the New York Times on Tuesday, where she portrayed herself as blazing a trail for Harris, 59.

'While it still pains me that I couldn't break that highest, hardest glass ceiling, I'm proud that my two presidential campaigns made it seem normal to have a woman at the top of the ticket,' she wrote.

Clinton, who was first lady to her husband Bill in 1993 to 2001, explained how she was a victim of sexism as a female presidential candidate.

Breaking:Hearing on Trump assassination attempt with FBI Director Chris Wray kicks off

The Judiciary hearing with FBI Director Chris Wray has begun. It opened with a tribute to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, a committee member who recently passed away.

Security tightens and fence goes up around Capitol

The U.S. Capitol is seen behind a security fence a day before of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit to Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Washington. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

US Capitol Police vehicle parked in the middle of the street as demonstrators begin arriving near the Capitol ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Thousands of Pro-Gaza protestors descend upon the Capitol

Nancy Pelosi to skip out on Netanyahu's address to joint Congress

'Speaker Pelosi will not be attending today’s Joint Meeting of Congress. This morning, she will join a Members meeting with Israeli citizens whose families have suffered in the wake of the October 7th Hamas terror attack and kidnappings,' a Pelosi spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

At least 40 House representatives and nine senators have said they will skip out on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress today, including one Republican - Rep. Thomas Massie.

Tens of thousands of pro-Gaza protesters are expected to descend on DC for the address today.

Demonstrators protest near the Capitol during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Swing state Democrats reveal how the 'energy' has shifted with Biden's exit and Kamala's advance

For Democrats who had been fearing a wipeout this fall with Trump coasting to victory as President Biden struggled, the shake-up on the ticket and party quickly rallying behind Vice President Kamala Harris is a welcomed change.

Democrats at Harris’ first campaign event as presumptive presidential nominee in Wisconsin on Tuesday breathed a sigh of relief and said they're confident the vice president has what it takes to beat Donald Trump in November.

Several voters told DailyMail.com that despite their deep respect for Biden, they were finally feeling enthusiastic and hopeful this campaign season with Harris at the top of the ticket.

‘Honestly this is so exciting. I’m honored to be here,’ gushed Maria Olig from Milwaukee who showed up for Harris' rally. ‘We need change. Kamala’s going to bring it.’

She said she came to the event after finally being able to ‘wake up in the morning and be optimistic.’

Secret Service asks Trump to hold rallies indoors after shooting

The Secret Service has asked Donald Trump to hold his future rallies indoors after the assassination attempt.

The embattled agency still dealing with the fallout of the shooting shared their 'concerns' with the campaign about holding events in outdoor spaces, The Washington Post reported.

Trump and his team are said to have agreed and are now looking for larger indoor arenas that provide more cover in the build-up to the general election.

He is back on the campaign trail Wednesday afternoon with an appearance at the Bojangles Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The news sparked a frustrated response from Republicans.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said it would be 'shame' if the former president was restricted to indoor spaces.

On Tuesday, the Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle finally resigned over the massive security failures that led to Trump dodging a bullet.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump-hating prosecutor reveals her 'singular focus' for 2024 race

New York Attorney General Letitia James says getting Kamala Harris elected president is her 'singular focus', despite plenty of cases on her hands.

Trump, who was also banned from doing business in New York for three years, is appealing the verdict as the fine accrues interest, and James will try to seize his assets if he fails to pay up.

Vice President Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race against Trump on Sunday.

James quickly endorsed Harris and continued her support when appearing on MSNBC on Tuesday night.

Inside the tiny Indian village where Kamala Harris has roots

People ride past a billboard featuring U.S. democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris at a crossing in Thulasendrapuram village, south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The lush green village is the hometown of Harris' maternal grandfather who migrated from there decades ago. Billboard in Tamil reads, "From Thulasendrapuram to America, we wish the American vice presidential candidate hailing from Thulasendrapuram village Kamala Harris victory in the elections- From the villagers of Thulasendrapuram " (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Villagers celebrate the victory of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Painganadu a neighboring village of Thulasendrapuram, the hometown of Harris' maternal grandfather, south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Waking up to the news of Kamala Harris' election as Joe Biden's running mate, overjoyed people in her Indian grandfather's hometown are setting off firecrackers, carrying her placards and offering prayers. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Residents hold placards with the portrait of US Democratic Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, as they celebrate her victory in the US election, at her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on November 8, 2020. - Residents set off firecrackers in the ancestral home of Kamala Harris on November 8 as India celebrated the vice president-elect's victory in the US election, as others hailed her achievement as historic and a "proud moment" for the country. (Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Residents offer prayers for the victory of US Democratic Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, at a temple in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on November 8, 2020. - Residents set off firecrackers in the ancestral home of Kamala Harris on November 8 as India celebrated the vice president-elect's victory in the US election, as others hailed her achievement as historic and a "proud moment" for the country. (Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

A villager walks past a poster of US Vice President Kamala Harris in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on July 23, 2024, after she was endorsed for the fall presidential election. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP) (Photo by IDREES MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images)

Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting Kamala Harris is being celebrated in her ancestral home in south east India with prayers.

Harris' grandfather hails from the village of Painganadu-Thulasendrapuram in the province of Tamil Nadu. On Monday, residents of the area held a special prayer service at the Dharma Sastha Temple.

Those services will continue until November 5, election day. 'We are very happy that the granddaughter of P V Gopalan, Kamala Harris, is likely to be the US Presidential nominee,' a local resident told The Deccan Herald.

'We organized special poojas to pray that she is able to get the nomination and eventually triumph against Donald Trump,' they added. A pooja is a Hindu worship ritual.

None of her relatives remain in the area, the priest of the temple told The Hindu, confirming that the last of her family left 'several decades ago.'

FBI Director Christopher Wray to face grilling on Trump assassination

Members of Congress are expected to demand answers from FBI Director Chris Wray about former President Donald Trump's assassination attempt.

It comes days after the former Director of Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign after evading answering rounds of questioning by punting to the FBI in another congressional hearing earlier this week.

Now it's Wray's turn in the hot seat, and it's unlikely to go smoothly.

The Judiciary Committee hearing is expected to focus on both the shooting at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally and the 'ongoing politicization' of the FBI.

Biden seen for the first time in six days... and is asked about dropping out

The 81-year-old has not showed his face since his bombshell announcement he was dropping out of the race on Sunday and sparked wild conspiracy theories with his absence.

The last time he made an appearance was last Wednesday - when he slowly exited Air Force One in Dover to go into isolation after being diagnosed with COVID. Only his voice was heard on a call into his old campaign office on Monday.

On Tuesday he emerged from his SUV with a mask, turned to the press and said he is 'well' and then slowly headed to the stairs of Air Force One to make the trip back to Washington D.C. for the first time since ending his 2024 bid.

'Watch and listen. Why don’t you wait and hear what I say,' he said when asked what his message during his Wednesday night speech will be.

But when asked why he dropped out of the presidential race, Biden just laughed and walked away. He slipped on his aviator sunglasses and got into the Beast.

The momentum shift in the polls

Kamala Harris has pulled ahead of Donald Trump in a national poll taken in the two days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.

The Vice President has taken the nationwide lead over her Republican rival after securing enough delegates to be named the Democratic candidate at the party's convention in Chicago next month.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Harris leading Trump by 2 percent in a head-to-head general election matchup as she hits the campaign in place of the ailing 81-year-old Biden.

It follows a slew of other polls taken in the aftermath of Biden putting a stop to his campaign.

Trump was leading Harris by tight margins in polls taken when speculation swirled that Biden wouldn't be on the ticket.

The view from Air Force One as Biden was rushed to isolation

By Emily Goodin, Senior White House Correspondent

Air Force One was flying so fast that I was shaking in my seat.

Now we were joining him on a mad rush back from Las Vegas to the Bidens' Rehoboth Beach getaway in Delaware.

Moments after fastening my seatbelt, the massive engines of the presidential Boeing 747 roared to life.

The flight attendants, in their custom blue uniforms, stumbled in the aisles as the jet's nose pointed skyward.

Tray tables shook. Reporters held up their water glasses so they wouldn't spill.

Most concerning, though, was that we had no idea what was going on.

For security reasons, there is no Wi-Fi on Air Force One, so we were cut off from the outside world.

Read more below

Key Updates

  • Trump leads Harris by 3 points in CNN poll

  • Democrats boycott Netanyahu as pro-Gaza protestors flood D.C. streets

  • Hillary Clinton: How I paved the way for Kamala

  • Inside the tiny Indian village where Kamala Harris has roots

  • The momentum shift in the polls

Read Entire Article