Overview
- New York Post reporting and related coverage attribute to Crooks dozens of accounts from 2019–2020 that show a shift from pro‑Trump comments to anti‑Trump posts and explicit praise of political violence.
- One August 2020 comment cited in the reports advocates “terrorism style attacks” and targeted assassinations, with additional searches reportedly focused on assassinations, bomb-making and high‑velocity ammunition.
- Sources link Crooks to two DeviantArt profiles listing they/them pronouns and interests associated with the furry community, as well as an apparent “muscle mommy” fixation and frequent references to Mao Zedong.
- Several outlets say Crooks interacted with a user called Willy_Tepes, described as tied by reporting to the Nordic Resistance Movement, though investigators have not confirmed any co‑conspirators or foreign direction.
- FBI Director Kash Patel reaffirmed that the bureau’s investigation concluded Crooks planned and executed the attack alone with limited online and in‑person interactions, a stance now contested by commentators calling for greater transparency.