New questions are being raised about whether federal investigators shared the full story about the July 13, 2024 shooting at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During that event, a 20-year-old individual named Thomas Crooks opened fire from the roof of a nearby building. The former president was lightly injured on the ear, while a volunteer fire chief tragically lost his life, and two others were hurt. Trump later said the moment felt like “time stood still,” and credited divine protection for his survival.
At the time, officials stated they had limited background information on the shooter. But now, several lawmakers say they were not given access to important material during a congressional review of the incident.
Lawmakers Say They Didn’t Receive Full Access
Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas, who chaired the task force examining the rally shooting, told The National News Desk that his team did not receive key records they expected to review.
“We definitely got stonewalled,” Fallon said. “When we finally got answers that we thought were fully forthright, now it seems like they weren’t.”
The task force ultimately concluded the attack could have been prevented, a finding that has only increased scrutiny of the investigation.
Online Activity Raises New Questions
During a 2024 briefing, former FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said investigators uncovered more than 700 online posts believed to be linked to Crooks, some containing extremist or discriminatory views dating back to 2019 and 2020.
Fallon now says none of that information was provided to the task force.
“They didn’t share any of the information with us,” he told CBS Austin. “It was either deliberate or incompetence.”
Fallon added that he plans to request a new hearing with Abbate to address the inconsistencies.
Public Figures Add to the Debate
Commentator Tucker Carlson recently suggested that officials had access to more information about Crooks than they publicly acknowledged. In a post on X, he argued that Crooks’ digital history contradicts earlier statements from investigators.
Carlson also mentioned FBI Director Kash Patel and former officials Christopher Wray and Dan Bongino, questioning how someone with Crooks’ online footprint avoided deeper review.
FBI Officials Defend the Investigation
Kash Patel maintains that the investigation was both thorough and expansive. He pointed to the scale of the review:
- Over 1,000 interviews
- More than 2,000 public tips
- 13 personal devices examined
- Half a million digital files
- Extensive video and financial records
- Two dozen online profiles
Patel said the agency followed standard procedures and fully evaluated the available evidence.
However, former FBI Special Agent in Charge Jody Weis disagrees, saying he believes the threat should have been detected 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.
An Investigation That Continues to Raise Questions
While the initial case has concluded, the debate surrounding it has not. Lawmakers want additional hearings, public figures are demanding transparency, and former officials are split on whether enough was done.
As the conversation grows, one thing is clear: the events of July 2024 continue to shape political and public trust discussions in the United States.
