Key takeaways as FBI releases major update on Trump assassination attempt after being accused of 'withholding information'

Following mounting pressure, the FBI has released more details on the attempt on Donald Trump’s life before he became president for the second time.

While the US political conversation may have moved on considerably since July 2024, there are still many questions people have about the attempted assassination on July 13.

On this date, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks successfully shot then presidential candidate Donald Trump in the ear while he was speaking on stage. His injuries after the shooting weren’t serious, and he was escorted off stage and to safety by the Secret Service.

While Trump survived, a bystander lost his life and was identified as Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief of Buffalo Township. Two other individuals were also seriously injured, and Crooks was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper after the incident.

Trump was not seriously injured in the assassination attempt (Rebecca DROKE / AFP via Getty Images)

Since then, many people have complained that enough information has been released regarding the shooter, influence and potential motives.

The FBI recently spoke with Fox News Digital and addressed the complaints that they have been ‘lying’ or withholding information.

No motive

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino spoke to the outlet and insisted that he and Kash Patel had made this assassination attempt their ‘day one priority’ when they came to office.

Bongino also clarified that following their investigation they found no motive for Crook’s attempt on Trump’s life.

He said: “We have reviewed this case over and over — looked into every nugget. We have spoken to the families, the president — there is no cover-up here.

“There is no motive for it, there is no reason for it.”

35 accounts linked to Crooks

A senior official, who wished to stay anonymous, also spoke to the outlet and explained the lengths the agency has been going through to uncover information as part of its investigation.

The official said the status of the case sits at ‘pending, inactive’ but also called it one of the ‘largest mobilization of FBI resources in history’.

They added: “Four hundred and eighty-five FBI employees have been involved in some way, shape or form in this investigation.

“We’ve reviewed 2,000 tips that were submitted. We’ve served and executed more than 10 search warrants and 100 subpoenas. In that, we specifically analyzed 13 electronic devices that were associated with Crooks and his family members from his home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.”

They added that the FBI has examined ‘35 accounts linked to Crooks’ and this included his social media, bank and other online accounts.

The reason ‘unfounded theories surfaced’

Kash Patel addressed the constant chatter of unfounded theories (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Patel argued that many of the conspiracy theories surfaced as a result of comments made by the previous FBI director Christopher Wray.

Patel explained: “My predecessor went to Congress and said he didn’t know if it was a bullet that hit President Trump in the head. The whole world knew it was a bullet.

“For the number one law enforcement officer to say that — it causes a massive disbelief in the institution that Dan and I are now running.”

No foreign connections

The FBI official reiterated that Crooks acted alone and had taken the steps to investigate whether he had been influenced by others, including foreign connections.

The official noted: “There is no information, no evidence anywhere in this investigation, that shows there was any foreign individual or foreign government or foreign organization tied to Thomas Crooks."

Bongino added: “We would have cracked the biggest investigation in human history — a foreign-directed plot.

“Why would we withhold that? But we can only follow the facts, and they are just not there."

Explosives were also found in Crooks' vehicle (Bethel Park School District)

Explosives discovered

The FBI official also noted that Crooks may have planned to take even more lives, as an undetonated explosive device was found in his vehicle.

The official continued: “The device had a receiver on it which would receive a message from a transmitter in order to detonate.

“The receiver was positioned in the off position. Had it been positioned in the on position, and if it activated from the triggering device on the person, our assessment is that it would have activated. But the position was in the off position."

The trio also reiterated that the FBI understands people’s frustrations and looking for someone to blame but insisted that they have no reason to lie about this incident.