According to Carlson, Crooks left a detailed trail of alarming online posts, including violent rhetoric and threats. He suggested that FBI leadership—past and present—kept the public in the dark.
FBI Fires Back: “We Never Said That”
The FBI quickly and publicly rejected Carlson’s claims.
This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint. Ever. https://t.co/nJ6S4CWIp0
— FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) November 13, 2025
“This FBI has never said Thomas Crooks had no online footprint,” the bureau posted on X.
Former FBI Director Kash Patel also responded, providing an extensive breakdown of the investigation:
- 480+ FBI personnel involved
- 1,000+ interviews
- 2,000+ public tips
- 13 seized devices analyzed
- Nearly 500,000 digital files reviewed
- 25 online and social accounts examined
Patel repeated one central conclusion:
Crooks had limited online interactions, acted alone, and never shared his plans.
Carlson Says He Found More
Still, Carlson insists the bureau downplayed Crooks’ digital presence. He claims to have accessed Crooks’ Google Drive and uncovered old YouTube comments from 2019–2020 that, in his view, contradict the narrative that Crooks left no warning signs.
Bongino: “There Is No Cover-Up”
In a Nov. 21 interview with Fox News Digital, former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino dismissed the accusations entirely.
“We’ve gone over this case repeatedly. There is no cover-up—none,” he said.
He stressed that investigators found no motive, no accomplices, and no advance communication from Crooks.
Patel echoed this, explaining why law enforcement hadn’t flagged Crooks before the attack:
Law enforcement does not monitor every American’s online activity without cause.
“If someone had reported him, we would have acted immediately,” Patel said.
What Do You Think?
Tucker Carlson says the public still doesn’t know the full truth.
The FBI says the evidence is clear and complete.
And the debate keeps growing.
What’s your take on the controversy? Share your thoughts below—your perspective helps spark the conversations that matter.