John Hinckley complimented former President Ronald Reagan and stated he was a fantastic president on Tuesday — 40 many years after making an attempt to assassinate the late Republican.

Hinckley manufactured the statement in an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, approximately two weeks after acquiring an unconditional release. Hinckley, who is now pursuing a profession in tunes, mentioned he feels "real regret" for his assault on Reagan.

Reagan was a "nice male and a great president," he told the outlet.

"I have true regret for what I did. I know [the victims] probably can not forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did," he continued.

Hinckley described the deep psychological distress he statements to have experienced above the past 30 years. Hinckley was ruled not responsible by purpose of madness for the 1981 assault, which remaining 4 wounded.

Attempted REAGAN ASSASSIN JOHN HINCKLEY SELLS OUT NYC Concert Location: REPORT

Hinckley said he tried suicide once by hanging and then again by capsule overdose in the decades following the attack and narrowly survived both of those attempts.

"Psychologically, that man or woman is useless," Hinckley mentioned of his part in the assault. "I am a fully distinctive particular person in thoughts and spirit."

He acquired a conditional launch to his mother's household in 2016, but people ailments were dropped on June 15, and he is now completely free of charge.

In addition to Reagan, Hinckley shot then-White Dwelling press secretary James Brady, as perfectly as a Mystery Support agent and a Washington law enforcement officer.

Brady experienced long-phrase well being problems because of to the shooting, and his demise in 2014 was ruled a murder, though prosecutors did not pursue supplemental prices versus Hinckley.

Hinckley declined to describe what it felt like to pull the set off in the assault during his job interview with CBS.

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"It is such a further life span ago," he stated."It really is a little something I don't want to try to remember. It was all just so traumatic."