Written by Luke Harrison.

A recently surfaced video, posted by an anonymous social media user under the handle “IronClad_USA,” appears to depict Thomas Crooks wandering around the Butler, Pennsylvania rally site hours before his attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump. This footage could potentially undermine the timeline established by congressional investigators, which was based on information from law enforcement. In the video, Crooks is seen in a location completely opposite from where authorities initially believed him to be.

Law enforcement messages paint a different picture. For instance, a local sniper texted at 4:26 p.m., claiming Crooks was sitting near the AGR building, the same spot where he later opened fire. However, the new footage reportedly shows Crooks at the vendor section at the exact same time, challenging the sniper’s account.

This discrepancy has led to speculation online, with some questioning whether the sniper might have been dishonest. Others are curious about the timing of this footage’s release and the fact that the original video remains unreleased, with only a watermarked version available. Meanwhile, attention has also shifted to a mysterious man seen walking near Crooks in the video, sparking further intrigue.

Silence from Authorities as Questions Mount

Congressional investigators, along with federal and local law enforcement, have so far remained silent about the new footage. The legitimacy of the video has been called into question, though it currently seems authentic. What’s clear is that by 5:38 p.m., Crooks had returned to the AGR building, according to local sniper text messages.

In those messages, a sniper reported seeing Crooks loitering near the AGR building, using a range finder aimed toward the stage where Trump would be speaking. The sniper immediately notified command to have someone check on Crooks’ suspicious activity.

Yet, despite the warnings, Crooks managed to carry out his attack at 6:11 p.m., leaving many wondering what transpired between the time of the sniper’s alert and the moment of the shooting.

Our Take

This video raises significant concerns about the accuracy of the official timeline. If the footage is authentic, it suggests a troubling failure in surveillance or communication—or worse, a deliberate cover-up. For the public, this is a reminder of how fragile trust in institutions can be when key details don’t add up. The lack of transparency from law enforcement further erodes confidence in their ability to manage high-profile incidents, leaving us questioning whether all the facts have been presented honestly.