New FBI documents reveal Thomas Crooks used the alias “Bob Dole” before the Trump shooting, while an anonymous donor paid for his cremation.
Newly released federal records have revealed fresh details about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate then-former President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Crooks used the name “Bob Dole” when ordering suspicious packages before the shooting. The records also reveal that an anonymous donor paid for the cremation of Crooks’ body after he was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
Crooks used ‘Bob Dole’ as an alias
Federal records indicate Crooks used the pseudonym “Bob Dole” for online purchases delivered to his parents’ home.
His father, Matthew Crooks, told FBI investigators that his son used the alias while ordering various items and appeared increasingly concerned about maintaining a limited digital footprint.
The records add to investigators’ understanding of how Crooks operated in the months leading up to the July 13, 2024, attack.
Other documents have indicated that Crooks maintained numerous digital accounts and took steps to conceal aspects of his online activity. Investigators ultimately found no evidence of foreign involvement in the assassination attempt.
Anonymous donor paid for cremation
Perhaps the most unexpected revelation involves what happened after Crooks was killed.
According to federal records, an anonymous donor paid for Crooks’ cremation.
The information was included in documents provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of an ongoing examination of the Butler assassination attempt. The records reportedly came from an interview involving Crooks’ father and information provided through the family’s attorney.
The FBI released Crooks’ body for cremation less than two weeks after the shooting, according to reporting based on the documents.
The revelation has raised questions among lawmakers about the handling of Crooks’ remains and how quickly his body was released following the attack.
Questions remain over the timing
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., has previously questioned the FBI’s handling of Crooks’ body, particularly the timing of its release for cremation.
The newly revealed information adds another element to scrutiny surrounding the investigation.
Crooks’ family reportedly faced financial difficulties at the time. His father told investigators that he was unemployed, while Crooks’ mother was on leave from work. The family’s financial circumstances have fueled questions about who paid for the cremation and why the donor chose to remain anonymous.
The available records, however, do not establish the identity or motive of the anonymous donor.
Crooks’ background draws renewed scrutiny
The documents also provide additional information about Crooks’ upbringing and behavior before the attack.
His father told FBI investigators that Crooks had few, if any, close friends. According to the interview records, Crooks never identified anyone as a friend during middle or high school, despite socializing with classmates.
Other newly reported records describe an increasing fascination with firearms and a strong interest in cybersecurity and maintaining privacy online.
Investigators have continued examining those behaviors in an effort to understand what led the 20-year-old to launch the attack.
Trump assassination attempt remains under scrutiny
Crooks opened fire at Trump’s campaign rally near Butler on July 13, 2024, striking Trump in the ear, killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore and critically wounding two other people.
Secret Service personnel subsequently shot and killed Crooks.
The attack prompted major scrutiny of the security failures surrounding the rally, including how Crooks was able to reach a rooftop with a direct line of sight to the stage.
The FBI investigation has also faced continued questions from lawmakers seeking more information about Crooks’ background, his digital activity and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Motive remains a central question
Despite the growing number of details emerging from federal records, a definitive motive for Crooks’ actions remains elusive.
The newly disclosed information about the “Bob Dole” alias and anonymous cremation payment provides additional insight into Crooks’ behavior but does not, by itself, explain why he targeted Trump.
The revelations are likely to fuel further congressional scrutiny as lawmakers continue reviewing the federal investigation into one of the most consequential political violence incidents in recent U.S. history.
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