The FBI has released more information on Thomas Crooks amid backlash about its lack of transparency into the investigation.
Crooks attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in July 2024. While he successfully shot Trump in the ear, the injuries he sustained weren’t serious and he was quickly carted away by the Secret Service after being struck.
Crooks was then fatally shot by the Secret Service after being located on the roof of a nearby building.
Over a year on from the incident, which claimed the life of rally-goer Corey Comperatore, limited details on the investigation on Crooks has been made public by the FBI.
With this in mind, some have accused the agency of hiding information.
One person who has been vocal with their criticism is Tucker Carlson.
Speaking on his podcast earlier this month, Carlson said (via The Independent): “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 or why he did it.”
The FBI has been investigating Thomas Crooks’ motive for over a year (Bethel Park School District)
“That’s because, for some reason, the FBI, even the current FBI, doesn’t want us to know,” he went on.
In the wake of the backlash, more information about the investigation into Crooks has been revealed and it was confirmed that the 20-year-old gunman acted alone.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told Fox News that ‘it is the FBI’s conclusion that Crooks acted alone’.
Also speaking about the speculation that someone outside of the US was involved, it was stated: “There is no foreign connection in this case. There is no individual that is outside US borders or inside US borders that had any role in directing him, inspiring him, or assisting him in any way — and that includes foreign governments.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says there is no clear motive for Crooks’ actions (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via Getty Images)
Bongino also addressed the questions surrounding the motives for Crooks’ actions.
“We have reviewed this case over and over — looked into every nugget,” he insisted. “We have spoken to the families, the president — there is no cover-up her. There is no motive for it, there is no reason for it.”
Over 400 people are said to have been involved in the investigation ‘in some way, shape, or form’ and agents from across the globe ‘conducted more than 1,000 interviews connected to this case’.
The case is now sits ‘pending’ and ‘inactive’, said a senior official who spoke to Fox News on the basis that they remained anonymous.
