The FBI has finally given Americans a behind-the-curtain rundown of its probe into Thomas Crooks and concluded the would-be assassin acted alone after a massive, global investigation that pulled in thousands of leads. For too long Democrats, pundits, and online conspiracy merchants tried to turn this tragedy into a political cudgel, but the facts — at least for now — show a lone, deranged actor, not some secret conspiracy.
On July 13, 2024, Crooks opened fire at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally, wounding President Trump in the right ear and murdering at least one bystander while injuring several others before Secret Service marksmen neutralized him. That night was a horror for hardworking Americans who came to a public event in good faith and ended up staring down lethal violence — a reminder that evil can strike anywhere.
The FBI’s description of the probe is striking in its scale: hundreds of agents, thousands of interviews, analysis of multiple devices and foreign accounts, and cooperation around the globe to test every lead. Conservatives who have called for a thorough and transparent inquiry should welcome that kind of exhaustive work — we want answers, and we want them based on facts, not political theater.
Yet the bureau admits it still can’t point to a neat motive or an organized ideological thread behind Crooks’s actions, a truth that runs counter to those on the left who raced to assign blame for political gain. Investigators found troubling online activity, makeshift explosives, and pre-attack research, but no clear manifesto or network that ties this to mainstream political movements.
Make no mistake: skepticism of the FBI under past leadership was warranted when messages were hidden and communication was sloppy, and conservatives rightly demanded transparency when this case first exploded. But now that the bureau has put dozens of agents and international partners to work, the American people deserve the courtesy of letting law enforcement finish the job and report what the evidence actually shows, rather than letting partisans weaponize a tragedy.
As patriots, we mourn for the victims and thank the Secret Service and local officers whose courage stopped a worse calamity; we also insist on accountability, clarity, and policies that protect public events and strengthen communities against radicalization. The FBI has left the case pending should credible new evidence surface, and every citizen who values rule of law should encourage ongoing vigilance while resisting the urge to exploit this pain for short-term political advantage.
