The FBI has yet to interview former President Donald Trump about the attempted assassination that nearly cost him his life, his campaign told The Washington Times.
The revelation comes as FBI Director Christopher A. Wray is under fire for questioning Mr. Trump’s claim that his ear was grazed by a bullet.
Mr. Wray told Congress this week that there was some question about that, saying it might instead have been “shrapnel.”
Mr. Trump’s campaign told The Times that agents “have not” spoken with the president, nearly two weeks since the July 13 shooting took place.
“What an absolute disgrace,” said former FBI Agent Thomas Baker, who was the first FBI agent on the scene of the 1981 attempt on President Reagan’s life.
He said he assigned agents to talk to Reagan early on. They had to wait two days because the president was still in the hospital fighting for his life.
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“That’s a key interview that has to be done,” said Mr. Baker, author of “The Fall of the FBI,” a book about the bureau’s recent struggles. “That should have been done as soon as he was able to be spoken to.”
He said he was struck by Mr. Wray’s testimony this week, which he said indicated the bureau hadn’t spoken to Mr. Trump.
The Washington Times has reached out to the FBI for comment.
The agency said in a statement last week that it is still pursuing investigative leads.
“Since the day of the attack, the FBI has been consistent and clear that the shooting was an attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and the injuries of several other victims,” the bureau said.
“FBI Director Wray provided extensive congressional testimony on Wednesday about the FBI’s investigation. This was a heinous attack and the FBI is devoting enormous resources to learn everything possible about the shooter and what led to his act of violence. The FBI’s Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine evidence from the scene, including bullet fragments, and the investigation remains ongoing.”
SEE ALSO: FBI acknowledges Trump was hit by a bullet in assassination attempt
Some news outlets reported that the FBI wants to talk to Mr. Trump in the wake of Mr. Wray’s questions about whether the Republican nominee was hit with shrapnel or a bullet when a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The former president has continuously said it was a bullet, as did the hospital that treated him.
But Mr. Wray twice raised questions about that version during testimony Wednesday.
“With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, that hit his ear,” Mr. Wray said in response to a question from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican.
Mr. Baker, the FBI agent on the Reagan investigation, said Mr. Wray should have had that detail nailed down by now.
“His throwing out that doubt about this — that question should have been resolved at the crime scene within hours,” Mr. Baker said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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