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Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, reportedly had a fixation on “animated female muscle-building erotica,” as revealed by the FBI.
Following Crooks’ attack at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024, it was discovered that he frequently visited DeviantArt—a platform known for its animated and often adult-themed content, sometimes associated with the furry fandom.
While initial assumptions suggested Crooks might have been interested in furry art, the FBI clarified that his online activity indicated a preference for images of muscular women.
“Crooks was active on that site, viewing content related to women who engage in intense bodybuilding,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated to Fox News Digital.
This particular genre of animated erotica is a niche subculture online, often linked to themes of domination and emasculation, and intersecting with submissive and cuckold fantasies.
The revelation adds a disturbing layer to what’s known about Crooks’s, who left no manifesto and gave no clear motive for his attempt to assassinate Trump.
FBI officials said a broader investigation of his digital footprint revealed searches for rally logistics and historical assassination details in the days leading up to the attack.
The bureau has now released an extensive account of its investigation, claiming Crooks acted alone — debunking a key theory.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who targeted Donald Trump, was found to have a disturbing online fetish, according to FBI investigators
President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania after surviving the assassination attempt
The FBI was forced into revealing the information after a bombshell Tucker Carlson investigation last week.
Patel, along with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and a senior official, has now told the Fox News Digital as one of the largest mobilizations of resources in FBI history.
Nearly 500 employees were involved, conducting more than 1,000 interviews worldwide and reviewing 2,000 tips.
Investigators executed search warrants, issued subpoenas, and analyzed Crooks’s digital footprint in painstaking detail, including 13 electronic devices and 35 online accounts.
Patel said the investigation was a ‘Day One priority,’ emphasizing that Trump was treated as a victim under federal victims’ rights laws and was fully briefed on the findings.
‘Dan and I have been on this since we got here eight months ago,’ Patel told Fox News. ‘We not only had to maintain the chain of command to President Trump, but we had to remind the world that President Trump was the victim – one of the four victims – on that day.’
Officials stressed there is no evidence Crooks was directed, inspired, or assisted by any foreign government or organization.
His foreign-based email accounts in Germany and Belgium were accessed within days of the attack, and all content was reviewed with help from international partners.
The FBI also dismissed theories of a second shooter, confirming that every round was accounted for and that the person seen near the water tower was a Pennsylvania State Police officer.
Crooks used a .223 rifle to fire eight rounds, injuring Trump and killing Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father.
FBI Director Kash Patel (right) revealed Crooks’s interest in ‘animated female muscle-building erotica’ during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital (Pictured: Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino)
Investigators found 22 unfired rounds and extra magazines in his vehicle, along with a ballistic vest.
An undetonated explosive device was also discovered in the car. The device had a receiver for remote detonation but was in the off position, preventing activation.
‘It seems so unlikely you would build a device and forget to turn it on – but he did,’ Bongino said.
Patel defended the FBI against criticism for failing to prevent the attack, noting that the bureau can only investigate based on a lawful predicate and does not monitor every American’s social media activity.
‘No one in law enforcement knew who he was. No one referred him to law enforcement,’ Patel said.
The FBI controlled the crime scene from July 14 to July 18, cleaned the roof after collecting all evidence, and oversaw Crooks’s autopsy.
DNA, fingernails, hair, and blood samples remain in FBI evidence. Officials clarified that the family chose cremation, not the FBI.
Patel rejected claims that the bureau withheld documents from Congress, stating that the FBI has provided more than 40,000 documents in eight months, including 2,750 pages related to this case.
Lawmakers were invited to Quantico for a full walkthrough of investigative steps, video evidence, and explosive simulations.
‘There isn’t some trove of documents we haven’t sent over,’ Patel said. Bongino added, ‘No one is interested in guilt or innocence, they’re interested in someone to blame.’
Trump told Fox News he has confidence in Patel and contrasted the current leadership with former FBI Director Christopher Wray. ‘I wasn’t confident with Wray, but this group is different,’ Trump said.
The case remains in a ‘pending, inactive’ status, but officials said they will reopen the investigation if a credible lead surfaces.
Bongino summed up the bureau’s position bluntly: ‘The public is pissed off. We get it. We sympathize with you. It couldn’t have just been this guy – it couldn’t have just been this guy – it is. There is no reason I would tell you otherwise.’