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The FBI has been accused of withholding crucial information during the congressional investigation into Thomas Crooks’ attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, according to two Republican lawmakers who spoke with the New York Post.
Representatives Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania and Pat Fallon of Texas claim the FBI “stonewalled” their investigation into the July 2024 attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, never sharing social media posts that reportedly showed Crooks’ political radicalization and endorsements of violence.
“We were stymied so much by the feds on what we could look at, what we couldn’t look at,” Kelly told the Post. “We knew we were going to get stonewalled on a lot of stuff.”
The accusations follow recent New York Post reporting that uncovered numerous social media accounts allegedly linked to Crooks. These accounts reportedly documented a clear evolution in his political views, showing a shift from pro-Trump sentiments to anti-Trump rhetoric over time, along with increasingly violent comments.
According to the Post’s source, who claimed to have discovered more than a dozen accounts belonging to Crooks, “The danger Crooks posed was visible for years in public online spaces. His radicalization, violent rhetoric and obsession with political violence were all documented under his real name. The threat wasn’t hidden.”
This new information directly contradicts what lawmakers say they were told during their investigation. Rep. Kelly expressed frustration about the investigation’s conclusion, stating, “I think that there’s so many unanswered questions about it. They don’t want people to handle the truth.”
The shooting at Trump’s rally was one of the most significant political assassination attempts in recent American history. The 20-year-old Crooks fired multiple shots at the then-presidential candidate, grazing Trump’s ear before being killed by Secret Service snipers. The incident immediately raised questions about security protocols, potential political motivations, and whether warning signs were missed.
FBI Director Kash Patel defended the bureau’s investigation in a statement on social media last week, noting that over 480 FBI employees examined more than 20 online accounts, data from numerous electronic devices, and financial records. They also conducted over 1,000 interviews and processed 2,000 public tips.
“The investigation revealed Crooks had limited online and in-person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone,” Patel stated.
However, Rep. Fallon believes the Post’s new findings warrant reopening the investigation. “I don’t think it would do any harm at all,” he said. “You can’t investigate these things enough.”
The House committee released its report on the assassination attempt in December, but Kelly indicated many lawmakers were left unsatisfied with the answers they received. “I don’t think any of us came out of that feeling, ‘You know what we really got the answers we were looking for,'” he said.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between congressional oversight committees and federal law enforcement agencies. Republicans have frequently accused the FBI of political bias in recent years, while the bureau maintains it conducts its investigations independently and thoroughly.
The attempted assassination came during a particularly divisive election cycle and raised concerns about political violence in America. Trump went on to win the presidential election in November, but questions about the Butler rally shooting and the motivations behind it continue to linger.
As of Wednesday, the FBI had not responded to requests for comment on the lawmakers’ allegations that they withheld crucial information from congressional investigators.
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6 Comments
It’s troubling to hear the congressmen were ‘stymied’ and ‘stonewalled’ by the FBI during their inquiry. Impartial cooperation from law enforcement is essential for effective oversight and accountability.
Regardless of one’s political affiliation, any attempt on the president’s life is a serious matter that deserves a thorough, transparent investigation. The FBI’s alleged withholding of information is highly problematic.
This case highlights the importance of monitoring social media for potential warning signs of extremism and violence. If the suspect’s online activity was so concerning, more should have been done to intervene earlier.
I’m curious to learn more about the social media posts that reportedly showed the suspect’s radicalization and endorsement of violence. If these were available, why weren’t they shared with the investigators?
I hope the congressional investigation is able to get to the bottom of this issue and determine why the FBI may have been reluctant to share relevant information. Public trust in institutions is critical.
This is certainly a concerning situation if the FBI is withholding crucial information from the congressional investigation. The public deserves transparency, especially around such a serious alleged assassination attempt.