In a recent revelation, two Republican lawmakers have accused the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of obstructing the House investigation into the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump by Thomas Crooks.
The lawmakers, Representatives Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania and Pat Fallon of Texas, expressed their frustration to the New York Post, alleging that the FBI withheld critical information from Congress.
According to Fox News, the New York Post had earlier reported on a series of social media posts, believed to be linked to the 20-year-old shooter, Crooks. These posts reportedly showcased a drastic ideological shift from supporting Trump to endorsing political violence.
However, the FBI allegedly failed to share these files with the congressional members investigating the assassination attempt that took place in July 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"We were stymied so much by the feds on what we could look at, what we couldnt look at," Kelly was quoted as saying. "We knew we were going to get stonewalled on a lot of stuff." He further added, "I think that theres so many unanswered questions about it. They dont want people to handle the truth."
Kelly also criticized the FBI's handling of the congressional probe, stating, "We all know it wasnt done, it wasnt complete and the reason for that is they cant handle the truth."
Despite the FBI's claims of finding no evidence of Crooks following a particular ideology on his laptop, the Post's source reportedly uncovered a clear timeline of Crooks' changing ideology and violent rhetoric. "The danger Crooks posed was visible for years in public online spaces," the source told the paper. "His radicalization, violent rhetoric and obsession with political violence were all documented under his real name. The threat wasnt hidden."
The FBI has yet to publicly identify a political motive for Crooks' actions. However, the Post's digital records suggest that Crooks' online comments shifted from pro-Trump to anti-Trump over several years. The cause of this shift remains unclear, but it is known that prior to targeting the president, Crooks' posts about rage and violence were reportedly directed at Democrats.
Reflecting on the House committees meetings with the FBI, Kelly stated, "I dont think any of us came out of that feeling, You know what we really got the answers we were looking for." In response to the Posts findings, Fallon has called for a new investigation, expressing that he doesnt recall the FBI sharing those details when he was part of the congressional investigation committee. "I dont think it would do any harm at all," he added. "You cant investigate these things enough."
Fox News Digital has sought comments from the FBI and the offices of Kelly and Fallon. In a recent statement, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote, "The FBIs investigation into Thomas Crooks identified and examined over 20 online accounts, data extracted from over a dozen electronic devices, examination of numerous financial accounts, and over 1,000 interviews and 2000 public tips."
He further added, "The investigation, conducted by over 480 FBI employees, revealed Crooks had limited online and in person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone."
The question remains: why were these details not shared with the congressional committee? The call for a new investigation echoes the need for transparency and accountability in such critical matters.
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