In a startling revelation from one of the most significant investigations in recent American history, the FBI has disclosed personal details about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
The Pennsylvania Rally Shooting
On a pivotal day in July 2024, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Crooks managed to fire eight rounds from a .223 calibre rifle, with one bullet grazing Trump's ear. The attack, which instantly became a defining moment of the 2024 White House race, was swiftly neutralised. A Secret Service counter sniper team shot and killed Crooks immediately after he commenced firing.
Uncovering the Motive: A Digital Trail
With no manifesto or clear motive left behind, the FBI embarked on one of its most extensive investigations to understand what drove Crooks. The bureau involved approximately 500 employees and conducted 1,000 interviews worldwide. A key finding from their digital forensic work was Crooks' activity on the website DeviantArt.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed to Fox News Digital that Crooks' online searches revealed an interest in a specific niche. "Crooks was on that website and looked at images related to women who work out...a lot," Patel stated. This referred to an online fetish community centred around animated depictions of powerfully muscular women, often shown dominating smaller men.
FBI Debunks Conspiracy Theories
The investigation definitively concluded that Crooks acted entirely alone. The FBI addressed and dismissed widespread online speculation, confirming there was no evidence of a second shooter, a wider conspiracy, or involvement with any foreign government. Every round fired at the scene was accounted for.
In response to criticism, particularly from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Patel defended the agency's actions. He emphasised that Crooks was not previously known to law enforcement and had not been referred to them prior to the attack. "No one in law enforcement knew who he was," Patel asserted, reinforcing that the assassination attempt could not have been prevented based on the information available at the time.
Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reiterated that the probe was a "day one priority" and that they were committed to reminding the public that Donald Trump was one of the victims on that day. The release of these personal details about Crooks offers a rare, albeit perplexing, insight into the isolated individual behind a failed act that shook the nation's political landscape.
