Judicial Watch Slams FBI for 12-Year Timeline on Trump Assassination Attempt Documents

Judicial Watch President Thomas Fitton criticized the FBI's pace for releasing documents concerning the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. Fitton stated that at the current processing rate, it will take 12 years to review the approximately 75,000 pages of records, a timeline he called "unacceptable."

Judicial Watch initiated a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in 2025 after the FBI initially denied a Freedom of Information Act request for documents related to the investigation into Thomas Matthew Crooks' attack on Trump at a rally. The lawsuit has since prompted the release of several batches of documents.

One recent release included redacted text messages sent by Crooks to an unknown recipient between May 2023 and January 2024. Fitton expressed concern over the redactions, arguing that the public interest in understanding the assassination attempt outweighs the privacy of individuals identified in the messages. "Withholding that information is a very concerning decision," Fitton told Fox News Digital. "The American people want to be certain this isn't another JFK situation."

Crooks' messages, often one or two words, included phrases like "Hello," "Yolo," and repeated instances of "red." Fitton suggested that the FBI must balance privacy expectations with the public's right to know, especially given the gravity of the incident, which resulted in two citizen deaths and an injury to Trump.

Fitton also noted that previous documents revealed Crooks engaged in a public verbal altercation with rally attendees shortly before ascending to the roof of the AGR International building and opening fire. He described Crooks' behavior as erratic and publicly visible, contrasting it with a covert action.

Judicial Watch is pressing the FBI and DOJ to expedite the document release process, citing the need for transparency and timely information regarding the investigation. The FBI and U.S. Secret Service were contacted for comment.