It was reported earlier on Thursday that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, had posted a message on gaming platform Steam.
Now, the authorities appear to be walking back this theory, according to a recent CNN report. Law enforcement is still investigating the details of the shooting and the motivation of the would-be assassin.
Investigators now believe that the Steam account in the name of the man who shot at former President Donald Trump over the weekend is fake, a US official briefed on the matter told CNN.
Earlier Thursday, CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Thomas Matthews Crooks posted, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.” The source did not elaborate on timing or whether there were other posts.
The FBI told senators on Wednesday that they believed the account did indeed belong to Crooks, the source familiar with the briefing said. But now the bureau has revised that assessment, the US official said.
Officials continue to stress that the investigation is still in its early stages and has yet to turn up any potential motive.
🚨NEWS: Fox has learned that Senators were told in the all-member briefing today that Thomas Crooks wrote on a gaming platform called ‘Steam’, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds”
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 18, 2024
When investigators reviewed the laptop, they found a few searches in July of: Trump,…
The FBI’s original assessment was reported earlier in the day amid widespread speculation about the shooter’s political leanings.
Late on Wednesday, Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported that a group of senators were briefed on would-be assassin Thomas Crooks' social media postings on a gaming platform called Steam. Along with the reported post, which is ominous in hindsight but probably wouldn't have set off many alarms before his attempt, the senators were given some information about Crooks that is decidedly odd.
The Steam post in question stated simply: “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.” That, before the attempt, could be taken to mean almost anything, although hindsight gives it a completely different tone. But it's the paraphernalia found on and around Crooks, as well as at his home, that is decidedly strange.
Investigators found that Crooks conducted several searches related to major depression disorder. The phone still has not yet turned up evidence pointing to a motive or political affiliation.
The FBI has apparently completed its examination of failed assassin Thomas Matthew Crook's phone, and it has revealed... not much.
It's unclear whether Crook could have cleared any data off his phone before Saturday's attempt.
An examination of his phone, which the FBI unlocked, has not turned up any significant information about the suspect's motives -- only what sources described as "routine" information for a 20-year-old male. Thus far, investigators have turned up nothing to suggest that he had any accomplices or other support to carry out his deadly objective.
The authorities found out that Crooks had asked for the day of the rally off and told his boss he would return to work on Sunday. He also had a tactical vest in his vehicle, but did not wear it during the attempted assassination.
As this is a developing story, RedState will provide updates as they become available.
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