A sinister theory linking a decades-old CIA mind control programme to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is being promoted by a US congressman, raising alarming questions about the power of intelligence agencies.
The MKUltra Allegation
Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee has publicly claimed that US intelligence agencies, particularly the CIA, may have orchestrated or enabled the attack on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. Burchett suggested that the shooter, Thomas Crooks, 20, was psychologically manipulated online using techniques reminiscent of MKUltra, the notorious Cold War-era CIA mind control programme.
While MKUltra officially ended in the early 1970s, Burchett alleged that intelligence officials never truly stopped experimenting with methods to erode free will, though he offered no direct evidence to support this claim. According to the congressman, Crooks was allegedly 'programmed' to act as a disposable patsy, sending a warning that Trump and his supporters were targets of the so-called 'deep state'.
'They programmed this kid. You got a kid who's got access to guns or has some basic knowledge of firearms, he was programmed,' Burchett told conservative influencer Benny Johnson. The congressman added ominously, 'The facts have been buried or burned. Whoever knew is either on a beach sipping a fruity drink or they're dead.'
Official Denials and Historical Precedent
Despite Burchett's dramatic assertions, the FBI maintains that Crooks acted alone in Butler, with no evidence of co-conspirators or foreign direction. This official stance stands in stark contrast to the conspiracy theory gaining traction in some circles.
The original MKUltra programme targeted criminals, mental patients, drug addicts, Army soldiers, and ordinary citizens, often without their knowledge, using drugs and psychological torture. The CIA denied the programme existed until the 1970s, when lawsuits forced the agency to confirm its operations had ended by 1973.
Burchett claimed Crooks fits a modern example of MKUltra's methods, using social media and internet influence to manipulate vulnerable individuals. The congressman argued that current programmes exploit isolated or radicalised youth for rogue missions, though he offered no proof during a November 14 livestream.
A Pattern of Manipulation?
Recent reports revealed that Thomas Crooks appeared to use 'they/them' pronouns on a site known for adult 'furry' content. Accounts linked to him suggested an interest in anthropomorphic characters, though investigators have not tied transgender ideology to the shooting.
Burchett also cited a constituent's child who was allegedly manipulated online into self-diagnosing as transgender, claiming the minor had been contacted by an unidentified group. This anecdote was used to bolster his theory of widespread psychological manipulation.
Crooks is not the first criminal connected to CIA mind control programmes. Infamous gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger said he was subjected to experiments in 1957 while imprisoned in Atlanta. Bulger recalled horrific experiences: 'We experienced living nightmares, even blood coming out of the walls. Guys turned into skeletons in front of me. I saw a camera change into the head of a dog. I felt like I was going insane.'
Over 1,200 declassified documents confirm the CIA psychologically tortured subjects for weeks or months to manipulate their minds. MKUltra chief Sidney Gottlieb has also been linked to experiments using wildlife as 'animal assassins' and drugging unwitting American citizens with psychedelics.
Declassified reports reveal that funding for these projects flowed through multiple government agencies and military contractors to conceal CIA involvement during the Cold War. However, Burchett could not provide details on where any alleged 'dark money' for such experiments would come from today.
