FBI records on Thomas Crooks' phone and drone released via Judicial Watch FOIA suit
Judicial Watch says it obtained 249 pages of FBI records on Thomas Crooks, the Butler, Pennsylvania gunman, including redacted text threads and drone data. The FBI marked some messages "pertinent" without saying why.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Judicial Watch announced that it obtained 249 pages of new FBI records on Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman in the July 13, 2024 attempt on Donald Trump's life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. BreitbartR “Judicial Watch announced that it obtained 249 pages of new FBI records detailing a redacted “chat thread” tied to Thomas Matthew Crooks” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “FBI documents released Friday show” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The group said it received the files through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit it filed in July 2025, after the FBI failed to answer a records request. BreitbartR “through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit it filed in July 2025 after the FBI failed to answer a request for records on Crooks and the shooting” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The records include a "chat thread" between Crooks and a recipient whose name is redacted, running from May 21, 2023, to January 3, 2024. Crooks' outgoing messages are mostly one- or two-word strings such as "Hello red", "Yolo" and "890", plus strings of random letters, and the incoming messages are not included. BreitbartR “The outgoing messages consist largely of one- and two-word strings such as “Hello red,” “Yolo,” “890,” and mashes of letters.” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “The incoming messages Crooks may have been responding to are not included in the document.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The New York Post reported that other messages, which the FBI deemed "pertinent", include a Feb. 9, 2023 exchange with an "unknown contact" who asked "Did you 3D print the parts?" and received the apparent reply "Yes, except for the fan blades." It also reported Christmas Day 2022 messages in which Crooks appeared to trade "gifts" with an unidentified person. New York PostR ““Did you 3D print the parts?” read a Feb. 9, 2023, message Crooks received on his Samsung device from an individual described by the FBI as an “unknown contact.””“Messages from Christmas Day 2022 show Crooks appears to have traded “gifts” with an unidentified individual.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Post said it is unclear why the FBI considered these communications pertinent, and that FBI representatives did not respond to a request for comment. New York PostR “It’s unclear why the FBI determined that these communications were “pertinent” to their investigation.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Breitbart reported that a "Samsung Messaging Review" dated July 18, 2024 also flagged as "pertinent" campaign solicitations from then-Senate candidate Raphael Warnock and DHL shipment notifications from Hong Kong. BreitbartR “including campaign solicitations from then-U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and DHL shipment notifications from Hong Kong” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2Much of the production is FBI laboratory analysis of a drone. A July 19, 2024 report says agents extracted 40 images and eight flight logs taken between February 6 and 27, 2024, around Pittsburgh, with the eighth flight over Butler on the day of the shooting. The Post said the images included PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium and railroad tracks. BreitbartR “agents extracted 40 images and eight flight logs, taken between February 6 and February 27, 2024, in the Pittsburgh area” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “Crooks snapped aerial photos of PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Post linked the release to its earlier reporting, based on records from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, in which Crooks' father said his son owned a 3D printer and once made a Glock 19 that was fired only once. New York PostR ““Using carbon fiber plastic, a dryer and a toaster oven, Thomas did once create a Glock 19,” the gunman’s father, Matthew, told investigators.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the records "reveal more pieces of the puzzle" and urged the FBI to stop the "slow drip of heavily redacted records" and release the full file, citing the death last week of shooting victim James Copenhaver. The group says the full file is about 75,000 pages and would take 12 years to produce at about 500 pages a month. BreitbartR “The group said the full file runs to roughly 75,000 pages, and at about 500 pages a month would take 12 years to produce.” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR ““The FBI should stop the slow drip of heavily redacted records and immediately provide the full investigative record” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Breitbart added that a companion release includes texts under a "January 7 Intel Chain" heading mentioning CIA bomb techs and dog teams at a pipe-bomb scene, and noted Trump's September claim that the attack was "a Democrat Plot" and the file was "missing, altered, corrupted, or gone". It said the FBI has maintained that Crooks acted alone. BreitbartR “referencing “two CIA bomb techs” assisting at a pipe-bomb scene”“The FBI has maintained Crooks acted alone.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the release as new FBI material pushed out by Judicial Watch, with the New York Post leading on unexplained 3D-printer and 'gifts' texts and Breitbart on the redacted chat thread, drone data and the group's complaint about slow, redacted disclosure.
- Emphasis
- Unexplained or redacted communications, drone flights, Fitton's call for the full file; Breitbart adds Trump's 'Democrat Plot' claim and CIA references.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither includes comment from the FBI beyond the Post noting no response; no independent experts or other outlets' view on whether the messages matter.
- Charged language
- “mystery persons”“bizarre communications”“slow drip”“Democrat Plot”
- For example
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“Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks texted mystery persons about his 3D printer and ‘gifts’” — New York Post
“Judicial Watch also obtained bizarre communications described by the FBI as a “chat thread”” — New York Post
“The release follows Trump’s September claim on Truth Social that the Butler attack “was all a Democrat Plot”” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Judicial Watch obtained FBI records on Thomas Crooks via a FOIA request/lawsuit.
- The records include a redacted chat thread from May 21, 2023 to January 3, 2024.
- The FBI extracted drone images and flight logs, including a Butler flight on July 13, 2024.
- Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton called for the FBI to release the full file.
Judicial Watch organisation
Judicial Watch says the records show more pieces of the puzzle and accuses the FBI of withholding too much through heavily redacted, slow releases.
“Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the files are further evidence the bureau is withholding too much.” — Breitbart
Thomas Matthew Crooks person
Crooks is shown in the records only through his own messages and devices; the FBI has said he acted alone.
“The FBI has maintained Crooks acted alone.” — Breitbart
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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FBI Records Reveal Trump Gunman's Redacted Chat Thread, Drone Photos
Critical Reports the Judicial Watch release and its complaint that the FBI is withholding too much, with added context on Trump's plot claim.
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Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks texted mystery persons about his 3D printer and ‘gifts’
Mixed Leads on the 3D printer and 'gifts' texts as mysterious, while noting it is unclear why the FBI found them pertinent.
- 2 Oct 23:11 First BreitbartR FBI Records Reveal Trump Gunman's Redacted Chat Thread, Drone Photos
- 2 Oct 23:35 +24m New York PostR Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks texted mystery persons about his 3D printer and ‘gifts’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.