House intel chairman demands FBI determine if accused Trump assassins have ties to Iran

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner is demanding the FBI definitively determine whether either of the American men accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump has ties to Iran.

Turner, R-Ohio, said the recent revelations that Iran has plotted to assassinate Trump and people around him and the FBI has arrested a Pakistani man in connection with that plot raise legitimate concerns whether the late Matthew Thomas Crooks or Ryan Routh could have ties to Tehran. 

“I want those investigations to come to a conclusion and determine whether or not either of these plots have any nexus or connection to the active plot the administration is saying that Iran iS plotting in attempting to kill Donald Trump,” Turner told CBS News over the weekend.

“Again, this administration needs to make clear to Iran that would be an act of war, and needs to have a very strong response from the administration,” he added

Turner said he doubts the FBI can make such conclusions before the November 5 election. 

“They need to get to truth. I don't think they would be able to get to a point to release information that would conclusively indicate that either of those individuals acted completely alone,” he said.

The FBI has said it does not have any evidence yet that either man had accomplices, but that all aspects of the investigation remain open.

Turner said he believes the administration has acted more forcefully against the hacking attempts of the Trump campaign than the two assassination attempts.

“I do think that Vice President Harris needs to actively state and acknowledge that her administration is saying a foreign power, which would be an act of war, is actively trying to kill her opponent,” he said.

“This administration has made stronger statements about Iran's hacking activities than they have about the active plot to kill Donald Trump, which the administration acknowledges ongoing.”