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WASHINGTON ― The anti-Donald Trump political activist who shot at Republicans practicing for a baseball game last week toured locations in the nation’s capital, visited the office of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and had a list of six members of Congress on him, the FBI said Wednesday.

The FBI said in a press release that James T. Hodgkinson “made numerous posts on all of his social media accounts espousing anti-Republican views,” although all of the posts they reviewed were protected First Amendment speech. Hodgkinson did not make any specific threats against members of Congress on his social media accounts, according to the bureau. 

But despite the apparent political motivations of the shooter, the FBI did not refer to the attack ― which severely injured a high-ranking Republican member of Congress ― as terrorism.

“At this point in the investigation, the FBI does not believe there is a nexus to terrorism,” the bureau said in a statement.

The FBI’s use of the word “terrorism” doesn’t align with the dictionary definition, which says terrorism is “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.” When the FBI calls something terrorism, it’s usually referring to a specific connection to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Because Hodgkinson was not acting in support of any such group ― the Islamic State militant group, for example ― the FBI doesn’t see his action as an act of terror.

The shooter was a Sanders supporter who regularly shared his political views on social media and was critical of both Republicans and Hillary Clinton. He also reportedly had a violent history, and his foster daughter told a judge in 2006 that he was an abusive alcoholic. 

The FBI did not characterize the list of names Hodgkinson carried as a hit list. Agents said they aren’t sure whether the shooting was a spontaneous or a planned event, but that it currently seems to have been more spontaneous. Hodgkinson did not search out the baseball game or the practices.

“He was struggling in all kinds of different ways,” the FBI’s Timothy Slater said Wednesday. Slater said Hodgkinson was running out of money, having marital trouble and grappling with the effects of medication. He would not say whether Hodgkinson was abusing the unnamed medication or taking it as prescribed. 

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was severely injured in the shooting, although he’s reportedly now able to talk and text.

This is a developing story that has been updated throughout. 

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian hackers targeted 21 U.S. states’ election systems in last year’s presidential race, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official told Congress on Wednesday.

Jeanette Manfra, the department’s acting deputy undersecretary of cyber security, would not identify which states had been targeted, citing confidentiality agreements. She reiterated to the Senate Intelligence Committee that there was no evidence that any actual vote ballots were manipulated.

Department officials had previously said about 20 states had been probed by hackers working on behalf of the Russian government, but recent media reports had suggested the number could have been far higher.

Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate panel, expressed frustration at Manfra’s refusal to identify which states had been targeted.

“I just fundamentally disagree,” he said.

Arizona and Illinois last year confirmed that hackers had targeted their voter registration systems.

Russia has repeatedly denied responsibility for any cyber attacks during the U.S. presidential election.

(Reporting by Dustin Volz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Von Ahn)

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What Is Laylat Al Qadr?

Laylat Al Qadr is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims. It is known as the “Night of Power,” and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with the exhortation, “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” in Surat Al-Alaq (Muhsin Khan translation).

When Is Laylat Al Qadr?

The Prophet Muhammad did not mention exactly when the Night of Power would be, although most scholars believe it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final ten days of Ramadan, such as the 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th or 27th days of Ramadan. It is most widely believed, especially by Sunni Muslims, to fall on the 27th day of Ramadan. In 2017, Laylat Al Qadr is expected to begin after sunset on Wednesday, June 21, in the United States and the United Kingdom. 

Scripture

The Quran mentions Laylat Al Qadr in one of its chapters, the Surat Al-Qadr:

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:

And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:

Peace!… This until the rise of morn! 

Hadith

The importance of this night is also mentioned in hadith, which are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad as remembered by his companions:

Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.

Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2:34.

Observance

Muslims observe this occasion with study, devotional readings, and prayer, as the night’s holiness is believed to make it a very good time for prayers to be answered. The last ten days of Ramadan are considered a particularly spiritually important time, as any of the days may be Laylat Al Qadr, and thus worshippers strive to be especially observant during this period. Some Muslims participate in a spiritual retreat called itikaf (also spelled i’tikaaf) where they spend all ten days in the mosque reading the Quran and praying.

Imam Khalid Latif, chaplain of New York University’s Islamic Center, reflected on the significance of this day in a 2012 blog for HuffPost:

Many Muslims will give emphasis to the 27th night of Ramadan being Laylatul Qadr, but the opinions on what day it is varies. The Qur’an doesn’t mention a specific date for Laylatul Qadr and the Prophet Muhammad’s recommendation to, “Seek it in the last 10 days, on the odd nights,” indicates the importance of searching for it. I would recommend for those observing to take advantage of every night remaining and if we are amongst those who find ourselves in Ramadan next year, to stand in every night that we possibly can.

What one does while seeking out Laylatul Qadr will vary from person to person. Praying the Isha prayer, the night prayer and the Fajr prayer, the prayer at dawn, in congregation is important as is every minute in between. Some will then stand for hours in ritual prayer. Others will read or listen to the Quran being recited. Some will sit with their hands raised to the skies with tears falling from their eyes as their hearts tremble out of devotion. 

This is an updated version of an explainer that has been published previously on HuffPost.

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