Former Fox News host and conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson has announced plans to disclose what he claims is evidence that the FBI misled the public regarding Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a campaign event in July 2024. On November 13, Carlson shared his assertion via a post on X, formerly Twitter, indicating he had obtained Crooks’ social media activity and accused the FBI of withholding information about it.
In his statement, Carlson asserted, “The FBI told us Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump last summer but somehow had no online footprint. The FBI lied, and we can prove it because we have his posts. The question is why? Story tomorrow.” This assertion has garnered attention amid ongoing discussions about the FBI’s transparency in high-profile cases.
In response, the FBI took to its newly established “FBI Rapid Response” account on X to refute Carlson’s claims. The agency clarified, “This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever,” implying that the current administration of the bureau had not made such a statement regarding the suspect.
The background on Crooks’ online activities was further clarified during a Senate hearing led by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate shortly after the assassination attempt. Abbate noted that investigators had discovered a social media account potentially tied to Crooks from 2019 to 2020 when he was a teenager. This account reportedly included over 700 posts containing violent antisemitic and anti-immigration sentiments, suggesting a disturbing endorsement of political violence.
This revelation was significant as it highlighted possible motives behind Crooks’ attack on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he fired an AR-15-style rifle at Trump, resulting in the death of one bystander and injuries to two others before he was shot by Secret Service agents. Authorities have previously identified Crooks as a socially isolated individual with minimal connections outside his family, painting a troubling picture of his mindset leading up to the violent incident.
As the situation unfolds, Carlson’s forthcoming evidence could potentially add another layer to the ongoing investigation and public discourse surrounding this alarming event.