The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has definitively stated that the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last year was the act of a lone individual, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The FBI's conclusion, announced during a recent interview with Fox News, dispels any lingering doubts about potential conspirators or hidden motives behind the attack.
According to the Western Journal, the interview featured FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and an anonymous senior official. Bongino stated, It is the FBIs conclusion that Crooks acted alone. He further explained, Were not saying Crooks didnt deal with anyone ever we are just saying that the people he dealt with had no role in inspiring, motivating or directing this attack.
Bongino emphasized that the FBI had conducted a thorough investigation, stating, We have reviewed this case over and over looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the president there is no cover-up here.
The FBI's conclusion is based on a comprehensive investigation involving 485 FBI employees, over 1,000 interviews, and a deep dive into 13 electronic devices and 35 online accounts linked to Crooks. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of his work, debunked rumors of inaccessible encrypted data, stating, There has been reporting to inappropriately and incorrectly state that there was encryption that the FBI was not able to get into that is not true. We have been able to get into every single account.
The official further clarified that there was no foreign involvement in the case, stating, There is no individual that is outside U.S. borders or inside U.S. borders that had any role in directing him, inspiring him or assisting him in any way and that includes foreign governments. The official also noted that much of Crooks' online activity, which included political statements and advocacy for political violence, occurred in 2019 and 2020 when he was 16 years old.
Despite the extensive investigation, the FBI has not been able to identify a clear motive for Crooks' actions. The official stated, Crooks left no manifesto. He had no seepage of any kind. He didnt give any indication anywhere that he was going to do this or why he did this. Bongino echoed this sentiment, stating, Where is the manifesto? The answer is it doesnt exist.
Director Patel addressed concerns about why the FBI did not act on Crooks' online posts prior to the shooting. He explained, No one in law enforcement knew who he was. No one referred him to law enforcement, and we do not monitor every single Americans use of YouTube and Google and Twitter and Facebook. Patel emphasized the delicate balance between maintaining national security and respecting citizens' First Amendment rights.
The FBI has kept Congress fully informed about the investigation, including details about an undetonated explosive device found in Crooks' car after the shooting. Patel stated, Weve even had members of Congress come to Quantico in our lab facility there and walk them through the exact investigative steps, the video and audio recordings, the repercussions of the explosion that did not occur that day and how that would have impacted the people that were attending the rally.
While the FBI's investigation has provided some answers, it has also highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in the digital age. The case of Thomas Matthew Crooks serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of striking a balance between individual freedoms and national security.
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