There was an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump
There was an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump, per CNN.
US authorities recently obtained intelligence from a human source about a plot by Iran to assassinate Donald Trump, leading to increased Secret Service security around the former president, multiple sources told CNN.
There’s no evidence that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to kill Trump on Saturday, was linked to this plot, the sources said.
The intelligence about a threat from a hostile foreign agency and the increased security for Trump raise questions about the security lapses at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old managed to access a rooftop and fire shots, injuring Trump.
A US national security official said the Secret Service and Trump campaign were informed of the threat before Saturday’s rally.
“Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to ensure they tracked the latest reporting. USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was made aware of an evolving threat. In response, Secret Service surged resources and assets for Trump’s protection ahead of Saturday.”
The Trump campaign would not confirm whether it knew of the Iran threat. “We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to the United States Secret Service,” the campaign said.
Secret Service officials have repeatedly warned the Trump campaign against holding outdoor rallies, which pose greater risks than controlled-access events, sources said. The warnings have been general, they noted.
“The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and adjusting resources as needed,” Anthony Guglielmi, an agency spokesman, said on Tuesday. “We cannot comment on any specific threat stream, but the Secret Service takes threats seriously and responds accordingly.”
At one point, the Trump campaign stopped holding spontaneous, off-the-record events due to security concerns, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The FBI, conducting the investigation into Saturday’s shooting, declined to comment.
NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said there’s no known link between shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks and anyone else at the moment.
“The investigation of Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Trump is active and ongoing. At this time, law enforcement has reported that their investigation has not identified ties between the shooter and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic,” Watson said.
The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations denied an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.
“These accusations are unsubstantiated and malicious. From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani. Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice,” a mission spokesperson told CNN.