The president of Judicial Watch, Thomas Fitton, has criticized the FBI for its delay in releasing documents related to the 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Fitton expressed frustration over the estimated 12 years needed to process and release the documents.
Concerns Over Delays
According to Fitton, “They are telling us that at current processing rates, the process will take 12 years. Under the FBI’s timeline, we won’t even be able to challenge what they withheld until then.” Judicial Watch initiated a lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2025 after the FBI denied a Freedom of Information Act request for records related to the investigation of Thomas Matthew Crooks’ assassination attempt on Trump.
Documents Reveal Mysterious Texts
The lawsuit led to the release of document batches, unveiling a set of text messages sent by Crooks to a redacted recipient. However, the name of the recipient remains undisclosed. Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by Secret Service agents during the assassination attempt at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“We’re receiving these documents because they’re part of the investigation, yet we’re not being told who he was talking to,” Fitton said.
Judicial Watch’s recent document release shows that Crooks sent an array of seemingly nonsensical messages between May 2023 and January 2024. The texts, featuring random words and phrases, include: “Hello … Hello red … Hdudhdbdbbd … 7888ejdj … Yolo … Ddodjjf … 890 … Hdjd … Djdj … red … Yup red … Hello … Jhhhuuh … Hhdj … Jjjjjjjjjjjj … Hello red … Red red.”
Debate Over Privacy vs. Public Interest
Fitton acknowledged that correspondents with Crooks might expect privacy but believes this needs balancing with public interest. He argues, “The public interest in understanding how a former president was nearly killed – and two American citizens were killed – outweighs the privacy interests of anyone being protected in these documents.” Without quicker court intervention, Fitton suggests public pressure is the only option to hold the FBI and DOJ accountable.
Background on the Assassination Attempt
A previous document batch indicated Crooks argued with rally attendees shortly before he climbed onto the AGR International building roof to fire at Trump. Fitton commented on Crooks’ public behavior, stating, “Thomas Crooks was behaving erratically at the rally. He was in a verbal altercation with individuals about Trump and then immediately went up onto the roof.”
Processing Speed Criticism
The document release involves around 75,000 pages. At the current rate of 500 pages per month, the review could extend beyond 12 years. Fitton finds this timeframe unacceptable, pressing for a faster release process. He mentioned, “It isn’t that hard. I believe the president wants it done, and it’s frustrating that the FBI is offering very little transparency.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI and U.S. Secret Service for comments.
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