The FBI reportedly had several chances to intervene before Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate President Trump, according to a former FBI deputy director.
Recently, there has been news about Crooks’s extremist social media activity, which includes multiple threats of political violence and an alarming shift in attitude toward Trump, showing favor towards Republicans.
Chris Swecker, the former FBI Deputy Director, mentioned that if even “half” of Crooks’s extreme online activity was accurate, it should have raised red flags for the agency before he fired at the then-presidential nominee during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“He was clearly making alarming posts on social media,” Swecker pointed out, reflecting on his 24 years with the FBI.
He criticized the FBI’s performance, stating that they deserved a “C grade” for how they handled the investigation.
Among the concerning posts highlighted was a YouTube comment that, disturbingly, expressed a desire to commit violent acts against specific groups.
Additionally, he had stated that “kill democracy” and suggested violent actions against members of Congress.
His comments included promoting terrorist-style tactics for opposing the government, which raises essential questions about preventive measures.
Swecker, who retired back in 2006, alleged that the FBI, under then-Director Christopher Wray, aimed to label Crooks as solely a far-right lone actor.
He felt it was evident that the agency recognized the broader scope of their investigation upon uncovering evidence that contradicted their initial stance.
This approach seemingly created a lack of transparency, allowing conspiracy theories to flourish.
“A bit of openness can be quite beneficial in these cases,” he remarked, recalling his time as deputy director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Swecker expressed that, within the FBI, there appeared to be a noticeable bias against right-wing extremists, whereas any potential left-wing involvement seemed suppressed.
This perspective, he noted, is one many of his colleagues share.
In the wake of Crooks’s actions, Swecker advocated that the findings related to the incident should be made public without delay.
“There’s no classification about the motives; they should just put it out there,” he urged.
He emphasized the importance of educating the public about online threats and radicalization.
Swecker highlighted the dangers posed by foreign adversaries who could exploit individuals like Crooks, turning them into tools for violent actions.
“It’s alarming that foreign entities might seek out individuals to radicalize online,” he cautioned, reflecting on how organizations like ISIS had effectively done so.
He urged Americans to be aware of such risks and take threats seriously, especially those that seem to advocate violence.
“It’s not about creating a vigilant society of snitches,” he clarified, “but if someone is making threats like, ‘I’m going to kill the president,’ that’s something to report.”
