Executive Summary
- A new report alleges the FBI failed to uncover a significant and threatening online history belonging to Thomas Crooks, the assailant in the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
- The findings contradict earlier statements from the FBI that Crooks had a minimal online footprint, citing numerous social media accounts with violent posts.
- Specific posts allegedly included calls for murdering political opponents and advocating for terrorist-style attacks on government officials.
- The revelations have prompted calls for a new investigation into both Crooks’ activities and the FBI’s handling of the case.
A new report has raised questions about the FBI’s investigation into Thomas Crooks, the individual responsible for the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report’s findings directly challenge previous statements by federal officials, including then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, who characterized Crooks as having a minimal or non-existent online presence.
According to information detailed in the report, investigators using Crooks’ phone number were able to identify numerous social media and online accounts under his name. These accounts, including a YouTube channel active from 2019 until the day after the attack, allegedly contained threatening content. Among the posts cited was a December 2019 comment stating, “MURDER THE DEMOCRATS,” and an August 2020 post advocating for “terrorism style attacks” and the assassination of political leaders.
The source material highlights that this type of online speech, while not necessarily grounds for an arrest, would typically be expected to register on law enforcement’s radar. The report further claims that some of Crooks’ more alarming posts had been flagged by other users who mentioned law enforcement in their replies, suggesting the content was publicly visible and noted by others as dangerous.
The discrepancy between the FBI’s initial public assessment and the details emerging from this new report has led to calls for a fresh investigation. Proponents of a new inquiry are seeking a deeper probe into Crooks’ background and potential co-conspirators, as well as a review of the FBI’s intelligence-gathering protocols and why this online activity was apparently missed prior to the attack.