<source: Fox News
Summary
Judicial Watch President Thomas Fitton criticized the FBI for delaying the release of documents related to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Fitton said the FBI’s processing rate would take 12 years, making it impossible to challenge withheld information. Judicial Watch sued the DOJ in 2025 after the FBI initially rejected a FOIA request for documents about the investigation. The lawsuit led to the release of documents, including redacted text messages Crooks sent to an unknown recipient. Fitton argued the public interest in understanding the assassination attempt outweighs privacy concerns.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Fitton complains about the FBI’s slow release of documents.
He calls the process unacceptable and demands faster action.
Redacted messages from Crooks to an unknown recipient remain unclear.
Texts include random words and phrases, adding to the mystery.
Author: Evan Null
Thomas Fitton’s Criticism of the FBI
Thomas Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, criticized the FBI for its slow release of documents related to the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. He said the FBI’s current processing rate would take 12 years to complete, making it impossible for the public to challenge any withheld information. Fitton called this unacceptable and questioned the leadership at the FBI and the DOJ about their position.
Judicial Watch’s Lawsuit Against the DOJ
Judicial Watch sued the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2025 after the FBI initially rejected a July 2024 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for documents about the investigation into Thomas Matthew Crooks’ assassination attempt on Trump. The lawsuit led to the release of multiple batches of documents, including text messages Crooks sent to an unknown recipient, whose name the FBI redacted before sending to Judicial Watch.
Redacted Text Messages from Crooks
The documents revealed a series of one or two-word texts Crooks sent to the redacted recipient between May 2023 and January 2024. The messages appear unrelated and somewhat nonsensical, including phrases like “Hello red,” “Yolo,” and “Ddodjjf.” Fitton said the FBI’s decision to withhold this information is concerning and creates the appearance of a cover-up.
Public Interest vs. Privacy Concerns
Fitton argued that the public interest in understanding how a former president was nearly killed and how two American citizens were killed outweighs the privacy interests of anyone being protected in the documents. He called on the FBI and the DOJ to speed up the process and stop “stringing the American people along” regarding the Butler assassination investigation.
Previous Revelations and Legal Actions
Previous documents obtained by Judicial Watch through FOIA revealed that Crooks had a heated argument with rally attendees before climbing onto the roof of the AGR International building. Two men shot at Trump’s rally later sued the federal government over Secret Service “preventable failures.” Fitton said Crooks’ erratic behavior in a very public way at the rally was shocking and unexplained.
