House Republicans Accuse FBI of Stonewalling Butler Shooting Investigation

The facts are becoming increasingly clear, and they paint a disturbing picture of federal law enforcement deliberately obstructing a congressional investigation into an attempted presidential assassination.

Two House Republicans have gone on record stating that the FBI actively “stonewalled” their investigation into Thomas Crooks’ July 2024 attempt on President Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Representatives Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania and Pat Fallon of Texas revealed that the Bureau never shared critical social media posts linked to the 20-year-old shooter, despite these materials being directly relevant to understanding his motivations and planning.

This is not a minor oversight. This is a deliberate withholding of evidence from the legislative branch conducting its constitutional oversight duties.

The newly revealed social media posts attributed to Crooks demonstrate that he was far from the “online ghost” initially portrayed by federal authorities. Instead, the messages show numerous endorsements of political violence and a documented shift away from previously supporting Trump. These are precisely the kinds of materials that should have been immediately provided to congressional investigators seeking to understand how a 20-year-old nearly succeeded in assassinating a former president and current presidential candidate.

“We were stymied so much by the feds on what we could look at, what we couldn’t look at,” Kelly stated plainly. “We knew we were going to get stonewalled on a lot of stuff.”

The pattern here is unmistakable. Federal law enforcement agencies have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to operate outside proper oversight when it suits their institutional interests. The question is simple: Why would the FBI withhold this information unless they had something to hide about their own handling of the case?

Kelly’s assessment cuts to the heart of the matter: “I think that there are so many unanswered questions about it. They don’t want people to handle the truth.”

This is not conspiracy theorizing. This is documented fact. Congressional investigators with proper security clearances and legitimate oversight authority were denied access to evidence that the FBI possessed all along. The Bureau’s own investigation has been widely criticized as incomplete and inadequate, raising serious questions about whether federal authorities were more interested in controlling the narrative than uncovering the truth.

The implications extend far beyond this single incident. If the FBI can successfully stonewall a congressional investigation into an attempted presidential assassination, what other investigations have they compromised? What other evidence have they concealed?

Kelly’s final assessment deserves serious consideration: “We all know it wasn’t done, it wasn’t complete and the reason for that is they can’t handle the truth.”

The American people deserve answers. Congress has a constitutional duty to provide oversight of federal law enforcement. When the FBI actively obstructs that oversight, particularly in a case involving an attempt on a president’s life, it represents a fundamental breakdown in our system of checks and balances.

The solution is straightforward: Congress must use every tool at its disposal to compel full disclosure. Subpoenas, contempt citations, and budget pressure should all be on the table. The FBI’s credibility is already severely damaged. Continued stonewalling will only deepen the crisis of trust in federal law enforcement.

The facts matter. The truth matters. And the FBI’s apparent determination to hide both should concern every American regardless of political affiliation.

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