Recently released FBI documents provided to the Senate have revealed a Snapchat account associated with Thomas Crooks, the individual who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. These documents, which were first reported on by the New York Post, indicate that the FBI discovered Crooks’s Snapchat account under the username “tom_crooks19.”
On July 13, 2024, Crooks shot and killed one person and severely injured two others during his assassination attempt against Trump.
The FBI files also noted the existence of an Amazon account linked to Crooks, as well as usage of an encrypted email service known as Mailfence, which he logged into multiple times from April 15, 2024, until July 8, 2024. Additionally, he operated a Gmail account.
Retired FBI Supervisor, Jason Pack, shared his insights with Fox News Digital, suggesting that the Snapchat account might contain valuable evidence. He explained that although Snapchat images disappear after being viewed, that doesn’t mean all information is lost. In his experience serving search warrants, he has often found a wealth of data despite the seemingly ephemeral nature of such apps.
Pack noted that while some aspects of Crooks’s Snapchat may be irretrievable, there’s still likely a substantial amount of information available. He also added that Crooks likely exercised caution while using Snapchat, given its partial lack of encryption.
He remarked, “It seems like he was trying to hide certain things, suggesting he might have been quite diligent with his social media presence and digital footprint, especially if he was careful about other public activities.”
At a Senate Oversight Committee hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned that there is currently no evidence indicating Crooks had connections with others, stating, “We found no evidence that this individual was in contact with anyone other than his parents, with whom he lived.”
