CBS News
Graphic footage shows law enforcement standing over body of Trump rally shooter
Graphic bodycam footage released Tuesday by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley shows local law enforcement and a Secret Service agent standing over the body of the gunman in the aftermath of the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The footage, which Grassley said in a social media post was obtained via congressional request, was captured by the body camera of a Beaver County Emergency Services Unit officer.
It shows what appears to be multiple local law enforcement officers and a Secret Service agent standing on the roof from where the shots on Trump were fired from more than 400 feet away. The body of the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, can be seen laying on the roof beside them with a trail of blood.
Last week, a local law enforcement officer with direct knowledge of the events had told CBS News that a sniper from a local tactical team deployed to assist the Secret Service at the rally had snapped a picture of the gunman and saw him looking through a rangefinder minutes before he tried to assassinate Trump.
In the bodycam video, an unnamed Secret Service agent appears to confirm this, saying that the deceased gunman matches the description of the suspicious person in photos that were disseminated prior to the shooting.
“A Beaver County sniper seen and sent the pictures out, this is him,” the agent says in the video, referring to the shooter’s body.
“I don’t know if you got the same ones I did?” an officer asks the agent of the photos.
“I think I did, yeah, he’s (the shooter) got his glasses on,” the agent replies.
The officer adds that the sniper “sent the original pictures, and seen him (the shooter) come from the bike, and set the book bag down, and then lost sight of him.”
The agent also asks about whether an abandoned bike that was found in the area belonged to the shooter.
“We don’t know,” an officer replies.
Sources previously told CBS News that an AR-style rifle, remote transmitter and cellphone was found on the shooter’s body, while two explosive devices, a drone, a tactical vest and four magazines of the same ammunition used in the shooting were found inside the shooter’s car.
In the video, the agent discloses that people who were believed to have filmed the gunman with their phones had been detained for questioning.
“There’s people detained who were filming…maybe they were involved, maybe they weren’t,” the agent tells the officers.
Authorities have since confirmed that the gunman acted alone, and cellphone video has revealed that attendees attempted to alert officers to the shooter a full two minutes before he opened fire on Trump.
“I think we have three victims in the crowd, are you guys hearing that too?” the agent asks in the video, referring to the rally attendee, a 50-year-old retired firefighter who was killed, along with two other attendees who were critically wounded.
During testimony Monday before the House Oversight Committee, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who then resigned her post Tuesday, alleged that, at some point prior to the shooting, law enforcement teams were sent to identify and interview Crooks after he was deemed suspicious. She did not provide any additional details, including when the team was sent to make contact with him.
“At a number of our protected sites, there are suspicious individuals that are identified all the time,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that they constitute a threat.”
However, three sources familiar with a July 17 law enforcement briefing to members of Congress said that Secret Service was notified by the Pennsylvania State Police of a suspicious person with a rangefinder on the ground at 5:51 p.m. — about 20 minutes before the gunman opened fire.
A CBS News analysis has determined that the gunman was able to fire eight rounds in under six seconds before he was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.
— Scott MacFarlane, Melissa Quinn, Nicole Sganga and Anna Schecter contributed to this report.
CBS News
Legal battle over potential TikTok ban goes before federal appeals court
Washington — A long-brewing legal standoff over the popular video-sharing app TikTok gets underway on Monday, with arguments in the challenge against a possible ban kicking off.
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been under fire by U.S. officials for years over warnings that China’s government could gain access to users’ data and use it to manipulate or spy on Americans. But a renewed push against the app gained momentum in Congress earlier this year, as lawmakers approved a foreign aid package that included provisions requiring it to be sold or be banned from U.S. app stores. President Biden signed the legislation into law in April, teeing up a countdown for TikTok’s sale.
TikTok and ByteDance filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department in May over the law, arguing that it violates First Amendment rights of users, among other claims. With the petition, the parties asked the court to block enforcement of the legislation, which they said would force a shutdown of the app by early next year, arguing that the sale of the app is untenable before then.
Given the timeline, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit fast-tracked oral arguments. The parties are appearing in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday, where TikTok will ask for a preliminary injunction against the law.
The video-sharing app will argue that Congress passed the law “hastily” under a “closed-door” legislative process, multiple sources told CBS News, while making the case that it’s the government’s burden, not TikTok’s, to prove that the speech restrictions further a compelling interest — and are tailored to achieve the interest. It will also argue that there’s “no information” that China has manipulated information Americans receive on TikTok.
TikTok has argued that the potential ban would be a “radical departure” from the U.S. supporting an open internet, while setting a “dangerous precedent.” Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers and security experts stress that the Chinese government could tap TikTok’s trove of personal data from millions of U.S. users.
In a July filing, the Justice Department outlined that the concern “is grounded in the actions ByteDance and TikTok have already taken overseas, and in the PRC’s malign activities in the United States that, while not reliant on ByteDance and TikTok to date, demonstrate its capability and intent to engage in malign foreign influence and theft of sensitive data.”
On Monday, TikTok and the Justice Department will each get 25 minutes to present their case.
CBS News
Best mortgage lenders 2024 – CBS News
Homebuyers have faced a myriad of challenges that have persisted over the past few years, including elevated mortgage interest rates, scarce home inventory and high home prices. The combination of negative forces has priced many buyers out of the market and left their hopes of homeownership in doubt.
Thankfully, the housing market is starting to turn the corner, with good news sprinkling into the sector. Inflation is cooling, and the Federal Reserve is expected to begin cutting rates this week. These developments could result in more favorable home loan rates.
If you’re in the market for a new mortgage loan, take the time to research the best mortgage lenders. Below, we’ve detailed our best picks for the top lenders that could benefit you, depending on your situation.
Start by seeing how low of a mortgage interest rate you could secure here today.
Best mortgage lenders 2024
Here are six of the best mortgage lenders on the market now, broken down into six different categories:
Best overall: Veterans United Home Loans
Low rates are great, but finding the best balance of competitive rates, favorable terms, quick preapproval and exceptional customer service wins the day. Veterans United Home Loans checks all the boxes and is our choice for the best overall mortgage lender. As its name suggests, Veterans United specializes in Veterans Affairs (VA) loans but also offers conventional loans—with down payments as low as 3%—and other government-backed mortgages including FHA and USDA mortgages. Veterans United boasts a 4.8 rating (out of 5) on its website with nearly 400,000 customer reviews.
Learn more about Veterans United Home Loans here.
Best for first-time homebuyers: PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union is an excellent option for first-time buyers as it offers rates on conventional loans as low as 5.5% and low or no down payment options, depending on your loan type. The credit union also offers a First Time Home Buyer Advantage mortgage with a 3% down payment option and no income limits.
Qualified borrowers may secure a conventional mortgage loan with a 3% down payment, an FHA loan with 3.5% down or a VA loan with no down payment at all. PenFed also offers jumbo loans, home equity lines of credit and refinances.
If you’re interested in a PenFed mortgage, you must become a member to qualify. Fortunately, the credit union is open to anyone who wishes to join.
Best for good credit: U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank is a large bank available to borrowers nationwide. You may prefer this bank if you like the idea of applying for a loan in person at a local branch. The bank also offers an online application process with a shorter approval time. U.S. Bank offers competitive rates for borrowers with a minimum credit score of 620, but higher scores may lead to a lower rate.
In 2023, U.S. Bank launched the Access Home Loan program to improve homeownership opportunities for communities of color. This Special Purpose Credit Program (SPCP) provides eligible buyers with up to $12,500 in down payment assistance and $5,000 lender credit.
Best for bad credit: New American Funding
New American Funding offers three government-backed mortgage programs: FHA, VA and USDA. These programs provide affordable mortgage options for homebuyers who might have trouble qualifying for a conventional loan.
With a 10% down payment, you may be eligible for an FHA loan with a 500 minimum credit score. With a smaller down payment of only 3.5%, you may qualify with a 580 or greater score.
If you’re looking for more than government-backed loans, New American Funding provides a wide range of options, with over 16 different mortgage products to choose from.
Get started with New American Funding online today.
Best for fast funding: Better
Better’s One-Day Mortgage option may be worth considering if you need a fast closing or quick rate lock. This program gives qualified borrowers a rate and loan commitment letter within 24 hours, instead of the days or weeks many traditional banks require. Better also claims to close mortgages up to 17 days faster than the industry average. And if you find a lower rate with another lender, Better will match it. However, this option is not available for FHA and VA loans. Better enjoys a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot with over 1,700 reviews, 76% of which gave the lender a 5-star rating.
Best for low fees or closing costs: Alliant Credit Union
Alliant is a popular credit union that provides low and no-down payment options to help borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Alliant offers a large portfolio of mortgage options, including purchase, refinance and construction loans. As a credit union, rates are often lower than its traditional bank counterparts. Alliant’s website is also a cut-above the competition, making it easy to explore your options, estimate your payment or get preapproved in minutes.
The bottom line
Mortgage rates and terms vary from one lender to another, so it pays to get multiple quotes to find the best offer. Most lenders allow you to prequalify in minutes without affecting your credit score, so you can see the loan amount and mortgage rates you might qualify for.
CBS News
Suspect in armed incident near Trump identified as former Ukraine volunteer with criminal record
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