FBI accused of hiding key info about Trump shooting suspect
Lawmakers say the FBI didn’t share online threats and digital evidence tied to the man who shot at Donald Trump — and are calling for answers.
New claims say the FBI failed to tell Congress about troubling online posts made by the man who tried to kill Donald Trump during a 2024 campaign rally — raising concerns of a possible cover-up or security failure.
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump was giving a campaign speech in Butler, Pennsylvania, when shots rang out. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired eight rounds from a nearby rooftop using an AR-15-style rifle. One person in the crowd was killed, and Trump was injured in his right ear.
It was a terrifying moment for the country — and a stark reminder of the dangers political figures face. The FBI quickly launched a massive investigation, claiming Crooks acted alone and wasn’t tied to any larger group.
But now, over a year later, lawmakers say the FBI may not have been fully honest about what they knew before the attack.
Lawmakers say they were “stonewalled”
Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas, who led a congressional task force to review the incident, says the FBI never shared key information with his team. One shocking detail: Crooks had reportedly posted over 700 comments online between 2019 and 2020 — many of which were hateful or violent in nature.
These posts included antisemitic and anti-immigrant messages, and according to Fallon, could have helped investigators spot Crooks as a threat earlier. But Fallon says Congress never saw those records.
“They didn’t share any of the information with us,” he told CBS Austin. “It was either deliberate or incompetence.”
Fallon and others believe the shooting might have been prevented if Crooks’ online behavior had been properly flagged and acted on.
FBI defends its actions, but questions remain
The FBI has defended its work, saying it carried out more than 1,000 interviews, reviewed 2,000 tips, and searched digital data from 13 devices and 25 online accounts. They say there was no sign Crooks had help or connections to extremist groups.
Still, many are asking why those online comments weren’t shared with the task force, especially since former FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate later mentioned them in a public briefing.
Former FBI agent Jody Weis told The National Desk he believes Crooks’ posts should have raised red flags much earlier.
“For them to say we just didn’t see much there, that we couldn’t identify a motive – I can’t understand why,” Weis said.
Growing calls for oversight and accountability
Political commentator Tucker Carlson has gone even further, claiming he can “prove” the FBI misled the public. On X (formerly Twitter), Carlson accused the agency of hiding what it knew about Crooks and criticized current and former FBI officials for not being transparent.
Rep. Fallon now says he plans to speak with House Oversight Chairman James Comer about recalling FBI officials to testify again. Lawmakers want to know whether the FBI failed to act on digital warning signs — and if they deliberately kept Congress in the dark.
This isn’t just a political issue — it’s a matter of public safety. If federal agencies miss key signs of a potential threat, or hide information after an attack, it puts everyone at risk.
The shooting at Trump’s rally was a turning point in U.S. politics. It showed how real the threat of violence is in today’s divided climate. But now, with lawmakers claiming the attack might have been preventable, it raises serious questions about trust, accountability, and whether lessons are truly being learned.
Did the FBI fail to act on signs of danger — or did they simply miss them? Either way, the public deserves clear answers. As pressure builds for more transparency, this story is far from over. The real question now: Will the truth come out before history repeats itself?
What do you think? Should government agencies be held more accountable when threats are missed?
