(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced that it forced the release of 142 pages of new, heavily-redacted Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit concerning Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The records reveal that Venmo suspended Crooks’ account for “unusual activity” the day after the assassination attempt, the FBI submitted a request for foreign dissemination of information about images found on Crooks’ electronic devices, and PayPal repeatedly addressed him as “Rod Swanson” in emails.
Judicial Watch filed its July 2025 FOIA lawsuit after the FBI failed to respond to a July 2024 request for records concerning Crooks and the assassination attempt (Judicial Watch Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:25-cv-02216)). The Justice Department has indicated that the total volume of records in the Crooks investigative file is approximately 75,000 pages. At their current release rate of approximately 500 pages per month, it will take over 12 years for Judicial Watch to receive the complete file.
A July 21, 2024, FBI electronic communication regarding a “Gmail Database Review” reveals that Venmo suspended Crooks’ account on July 14, 2024 – the day after the assassination attempt – citing “unusual activity” that might violate its user agreement. In an email to Crooks, Venmo stated that his account would remain suspended until the company heard back from him and requested a copy of his photo identification.
A separate July 22, 2024, FBI electronic communication details a “Gmail Database Review” revealing multiple financial solicitations addressed to Crooks as “Rod Swanson.” A June 2024 email from PayPal stated: “Confirmed – rod swanson! You’ve been invited to apply for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard,” addressing him directly as “rod.” Two similar two Mastercard solicitations and one statement notification addressed to “rod swanson” are also included.
A July 22, 2024, FBI electronic communication details a “Foreign Dissemination Request” sent to international intelligence partners noting:
Numerous images of guns and various political and other key figures were found on Crooks’ device. There were multiple images of President Biden (POTUS) and FPOTUS, while other individuals were represented in only one to two images. A review of file paths associated with these images concluded the majority of the images appeared in cache and likely were web images, not photographs or video files.
We are currently working to identify additional details related to these images. If we identify additional content related to individuals known to be citizens of your country, our Service will provide those details via an additional memorandum.
An FBI electronic communication titled “Intel review for Bill of sale found on Crooks’ laptop for DPMS Panther Arms sporting rifle” analyzes a bill of sale recovered from Crooks’ laptop. Crooks purchased:
Blue Force Gear Adjustable sling with extra picatinny rail OD adapter:
Allows you to control weapon movement and position flexibility.
AR Flip up sights:
Normally a scope is utilized as the primary method of aim, but if the scope fails you can utilize the flip up sight.
Accu-shot 3-12×44 adjustable scope:
This is a traditional hunting scope which is lightweight, compact, and adequate magnification range.
Vortex red-dot reticle:
The Vortex red-dot sight unlike some red dots with smaller aiming points has a larger dot to focus on your target.
Eleven 30 round P-mag magazines:
This is a polymer AR magazine produced by MagPul designed to augment/replace the standard stamped steel STANAG magazine. They are available to hold various quantities from 5 to 60 rounds.
1 magazine loader:
A device designed to load magazines at higher speeds and with less effort than loading rounds by hand.
An FBI electronic communication dated July 16, 2024, details a search for Crooks’ passport and foreign-travel information. A task force officer queried DHS systems but was unable to locate passport information or foreign travel for Crooks based on available identifying information.
The FBI heavily redacted an electronic communication concerning its analysis of Crooks’ laptop, withholding the entire substantive portion of the report.
“The FBI is abusing FOIA by hiding, redacting, and slow-walking documents on the Butler assassination attempt on President Trump,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The FBI’s handling of this matter is a scandal.”
In October 2026, FBI records included photos of the Pittsburgh area taken by Crooks using a drone, cell phone evidence that showed that Crooks received fundraising appeals for Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and an unusual chat thread between Crooks and an unidentified person.
In September 2026, heavily redacted FBI records revealed that Crooks purchased “a chest rig and ceramic plates,” exhibited increasingly unusual behavior, including talking to himself, pacing at night, staying awake for extended periods and exhibiting impulsivity issues.
In June 2026, heavily redacted records from the FBI that indicated that a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer at the July 2024 presidential rally for Donald Trump in Butler, PA, recovered a “gray remote device” with an antenna from Crooks’ pocket after he was killed.
In May 2026, Judicial Watch received, in response to a Pennsylvania court order, an audio recording of a 911 call placed by the father of Crooks.
In April 2026, Judicial Watch’s federal FOIA lawsuit forced the release of the first FBI records about the Butler assassination attempt, revealing that law enforcement personnel broadcast radio warnings about an “unknown male acting suspiciously” prior to the shooting.
Also in April 2026, FBI records showed that Crooks was reportedly involved in an altercation with a group of people and making “hateful comments” directed at President Trump at the Butler, PA, rally.
In August 2024, Judicial Watch uncovered documents under a Pennsylvania open record request from the district attorney’s office in Butler County, PA, detailing the extensive preparation of local police for the rally at which former President Trump was shot. The preparation included sniper teams, counter assault teams and a quick response force.
In August 2024, in response to a Pennsylvania open records request, Judicial Watch obtained bodycam footage of the July 13 assassination events from the Butler Township Police Department.
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