Illinois Valley Times

Illinois State House District 76 candidate Liz Bishop reacted to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, saying, "I wish for a swift and full recovery for everyone injured." She made the statement in a July 13 Facebook post.

"My thoughts and prayers are with President Trump and all those affected by today's senseless assassination attempt," said Bishop, according to Facebook. "I wish for a swift and full recovery for everyone injured."

According to an ABC News timeline of events, as former President Trump spoke about border crossing numbers, shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired as many as eight shots. Crooks, identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), had been seen by rally attendees as he climbed to the roof of a building 400 meters from where Trump spoke but outside the perimeter. When the shots started, Trump reached for his right ear, then looked at his hand and crouched behind the lectern. As the Secret Service piled on and tried to shield Trump, he stood and pumped his fist to the crowd before being hustled off the stage.

Screenshot of Liz Bishop's July 13 Facebook post | Liz Bishop for State Representative Facebook page

In her Facebook post, Bishop’s statement continued: "The political rhetoric in our country must be turned down. Violence is never the answer to our differences. We all love our country and share a common goal of making it better, even if our visions differ. In the United States, we resolve our political disagreements through dialogue and democratic processes, not through violence," said Bishop.

According to a July 14 report from the Associated Press (AP), the FBI is investigating the rally attack as an act of domestic terrorism. Although the gunman has been identified, his motive is unknown, and authorities think he acted alone. The individual identified as the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, is from Bethel Park, 50 miles from the rally site. He used an AR-style rifle registered to his father in the incident. A member of local law enforcement did find Crooks; however, after the 20-year-old pointed the rifle at the officer, that officer retreated. Crooks’ family is cooperating with authorities who found bomb-making materials in his vehicle and home.

Bishop is a resident of Peru, Illinois, and serves as a Deputy State Central Committeewoman for the Illinois GOP (Grand Old Party). Her focus includes rooted and responsive leadership, fiscal responsibility, and advocacy for lower taxes according to her campaign website’s "about" page. She promises to "be a representative who understands and resonates with the aspirations and needs of her constituents," advocating for policies that emphasize financial prudence to guide the state toward stability and growth. She pledges to work on reducing property taxes and controlling living costs.