A report on Butler, Pennsylvania’s would-be presidential assassination found accusations flying between the FBI and Tom Fitton’s Judicial Watch.
“This is a CLICK BAIT LIE
As the two-year anniversary neared of the July 13, 2024, rally that resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore, the wounding of two other attendees and the near assassination of President Donald Trump, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch reportedly contained a noteworthy line of communication.
As reported, the heavily redacted records indicated Trump’s failed assassin, Thomas Crooks, had previously sent at least two emails to a deputy with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, a point met with outright denial from the FBI that likened Judicial Watch to “the fake news media.”
“This is a CLICK BAIT LIE by @JudicialWatch which is now nothing more than the fake news media! The unredacted documents are interviews of Thomas Crooks’ by COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS, NOT cops, wherein those instructors reference to having emailed Thomas Crooks about COURSE WORK. They make NO references to contact between Thomas Crooks and ANY police department,” read the FBI’s Rapid Response account in reaction to an unavailable post from Fitton. “Maybe if you spent more time on Facts instead of clicks you wouldn’t be a laughing stock.”
This is a CLICK BAIT LIE by @JudicialWatch which is now nothing more than the fake news media!
The unredacted documents are interviews of Thomas Crooks’ by COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS, NOT cops, wherein those instructors reference to having emailed Thomas Crooks about COURSE WORK.… https://t.co/iHpI6VJ4GK
— FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) June 7, 2026
While the Judicial Watch president had his own response, a community note was tacked onto the FBI’s post linking to the FOIA documents obtained by the organization, “The referenced documents summarize FBI interviews with Butler County Sheriff’s deputies. One deputy reported two email communications with Thomas Crooks, subject redacted.”
Still, FBI Director Kash Patel shared the post and earned a note as well after insisting, “Facts over click bait.”
In response, Fitton wrote, “That [Patel] would promote this malicious, false and juvenile FBI post is disturbing. @JudicialWatch fairly interpreted heavily redacted documents produced by the FBI and DOJ after nearly two years of waiting and litigating. To call me and @JudicialWatch liars for doing so — based on secret material which you have withheld from us and the court — is beneath contempt.”
He went on to state, “If you have unredacted documents to share with us in this lawsuit, we will happily review and update our analysis. In the meantime, as government officials, you have a responsibility to apologize to me, @JudicialWatch and our supporters…and to delete your tweets. And immediately release the other 75,000 pages on the Butler assassination that the FBI is still hiding.”
That @FBIDirectorKash would promote this malicious, false and juvenile FBI post is disturbing. @JudicialWatch fairly interpreted heavily redacted documents produced by the FBI and DOJ after nearly two years of waiting and litigating. To call me and @JudicialWatch liars for doing… https://t.co/jikyQx9Ft2
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) June 7, 2026
Reactions to the social media dispute found users rising to the defense of Fitton and Judicial Watch as well as encouraging Patel to “Do better” after, as independent journalist Breanna Morello put it, “The FBI lost a FOIA lawsuit to Judicial Watch and was angry about it. As a result, you all sent back heavily redacted documents regarding Thomas Crooks. Now the incredible lawyers at Judicial Watch are stuck trying to figure out this word puzzle.”
“Attacking Tom Fitton is weak and using the FBI’s X account to do so is even weaker. Do better, Patel,” wrote Morello. “We were all rooting for you.”
The FBI lost a FOIA lawsuit to Judicial Watch and was angry about it.
As a result, you all sent back heavily redacted documents regarding Thomas Crooks.
Now the incredible lawyers at Judicial Watch are stuck trying to figure out this word puzzle.
Attacking Tom Fitton is weak… pic.twitter.com/oUGhLKVjpO
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) June 7, 2026
You’re losing more credibility. You don’t have much.
— Pam Sullivan (@PamSull04518122) June 7, 2026
If @JudicialWatch has it wrong, then release the unredacted docs
— Ignacio Melendez (@IgnacioMel98997) June 8, 2026
Show the documents. Let’s it all open and see who is lying. MAGA has such high expectation on Trump’s FBI. Don’t lose our trust!
— Dennis Wu (@DennisW25114664) June 8, 2026
You need to respond to Tom Fitton’s response to your false attack on him. Judicial Watch has done more good for this country than any other private organization. Release all of the Butler files, as you are legally required to do. Stonewalling makes you look guilty & hiding facts.
— Maranatha (@jrharissjr) June 7, 2026
Don’t you dare insinuate judicial watch is posting for clicks. They have done more heavy lifting to save this country than you can ever dream of. You talked the good talk, got some sound bites, followers and then the job. You have failed to do anything with it.
— Christine Shields (@NanShields67) June 7, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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