FBI Defends Thomas Crooks Probe Amid Tucker Carlson Claims

The Ongoing Thomas Crooks Investigation: Digital Footprint Dispute

More than a year after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, questions surrounding the perpetrator Thomas Matthew Crooks remain deeply contentious. Recent claims from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson have reignited public scrutiny, sparking a fierce rebuttal from the FBI under Director Kash Patel.

The July 2024 attack left Trump with a graze wound, killed bystander Corey Comperatore, and injured two others. Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, was killed by Secret Service sniper fire after firing eight shots from a nearby rooftop with an AR-15-style rifle. Despite extensive investigations, a clear motive for Crooks' actions remains elusive, fueling widespread speculation.

Tucker Carlson's Explosive Allegations

In late 2025, Carlson released a video claiming to expose "evidence" the FBI "worked hard to make sure you haven't seen." He presented material from what he alleged was Crooks' Google Drive, including videos of the gunman dry-firing a rifle and posts across platforms like YouTube, Discord, and Quora. Carlson asserted these documents prove Crooks had a "robust online footprint"—directly contradicting what he claimed was the FBI's earlier position.

"The FBI told us Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump last summer but somehow had no online footprint," Carlson tweeted. "The FBI lied, and we can prove it." He highlighted YouTube comments where Crooks allegedly called for political violence and suggested the shooter underwent a "radical" transformation from pro-Trump rhetoric to anti-Trump extremism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FBI's Swift Rebuttal

The FBI's newly minted "Rapid Response" X account—created under Patel's leadership—immediately pushed back. "This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever," the account stated emphatically. FBI Director Kash Patel further elaborated in a detailed post, emphasizing that the investigation concluded Crooks acted alone with limited digital interactions.

"The investigation, conducted by over 480 FBI employees, 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 wrote. The probe included analyzing 13 seized devices, reviewing 500,000 digital files, and examining 25 social media accounts.

Notably, the FBI clarified its timeline: the "no online footprint" claim Carlson referenced originated from statements made during the previous administration, not under Patel's leadership. The agency dismissed Carlson's evidence as "unverified" and noted his failure to authenticate the accounts he presented.

Unanswered Questions and Public Scrutiny

Despite the FBI's assertions, gaps persist. The bureau hasn't publicly released Crooks' full digital history or a definitive motive, leaving room for theories to flourish. Carlson's claims resonate with critics who argue government transparency is lacking, while supporters counter that the investigation's scale and conclusions are credible.

"Thomas Crooks came within a quarter inch of destroying this country, and yet, a year and a half later, we still know almost nothing about him," Carlson argued. "That’s because, for some reason, the FBI... doesn’t want us to know."

"The FBI conducted over 1,000 interviews, addressed 2,000 public tips, and analyzed 500,000 digital files. Yet the motive remains a mystery."

As Congress debates security reforms following the Secret Service director's resignation, this controversy underscores tensions between media narratives and institutional transparency. Whether Crooks was a "lone wolf" or influenced by external factors may never be fully resolved, but the clash between Carlson and the FBI highlights the public's hunger for answers in one of the most alarming incidents in modern U.S. politics.