The FBI has uncovered disturbing details about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who targeted Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024, revealing an obsession with animated female muscle-building erotica that adds a troubling dimension to his psychological profile.
Disturbing digital footprint emerges
According to exclusive revelations from FBI Director Kash Patel to Fox News Digital, Crooks frequented the website DeviantArt, a platform often associated with pornographic animated content and the furry community. However, investigators determined his specific interest lay in "images related to women who work out ... a lot" rather than broader content on the site.
This niche online subculture of animated female muscle-building erotica is known for themes of domination and emasculation, frequently overlapping with submissive and cuckold fantasies. The discovery provides crucial context about Crooks's mindset, though he left no manifesto and provided no clear motive for his assassination attempt.
Meticulous attack planning revealed
The FBI's extensive investigation, described as one of the largest mobilisations of resources in the bureau's history, involved nearly 500 employees conducting more than 1,000 interviews worldwide and reviewing 2,000 tips. Investigators executed search warrants, issued subpoenas, and analysed Crooks's digital footprint in painstaking detail, examining 13 electronic devices and 35 online accounts.
Officials confirmed that Crooks's digital searches in the days leading up to the attack included rally logistics and historical assassination details, demonstrating significant premeditation. He used a .223 rifle to fire eight rounds, injuring Trump and killing Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father.
Investigators found 22 unfired rounds and extra magazines in his vehicle, along with a ballistic vest. Most alarmingly, they discovered an undetonated explosive device in the car equipped with a receiver for remote detonation, though it was in the off position, preventing activation.
FBI addresses conspiracy theories
The bureau has now released a comprehensive account of its investigation, explicitly dismissing numerous conspiracy theories that circulated during the more than year-long absence of official updates. Officials stressed there is no evidence Crooks was directed, inspired, or assisted by any foreign government or organisation.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino bluntly addressed public scepticism, stating: "The public is pissed off. We get it. We sympathise with you. It couldn't have just been this guy - it couldn't have just been this guy - it is. There is no reason I would tell you otherwise."
The investigation also dismissed theories of a second shooter, confirming that every round was accounted for and that the person seen near the water tower was a Pennsylvania State Police officer.
International dimensions and forensic evidence
Crooks's foreign-based email accounts in Germany and Belgium were accessed within days of the attack, with all content reviewed with help from international partners. The FBI controlled the crime scene from July 14 to July 18, cleaned the roof after collecting all evidence, and oversaw Crooks's autopsy.
DNA, fingernails, hair, and blood samples remain in FBI evidence, with officials clarifying that the family chose cremation, not the bureau. Patel rejected claims that the FBI withheld documents from Congress, stating they've provided more than 40,000 documents in eight months, including 2,750 pages related to this case.
The case remains in a "pending, inactive" status, but officials confirmed they will reopen the investigation if credible leads emerge. Meanwhile, former President Trump expressed confidence in the current FBI leadership, contrasting them with former Director Christopher Wray, whom he didn't trust.
