FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is facing fierce backlash from conservatives after downplaying the chilling July 13th assassination attempt on President Donald J. Trump at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally — and none other than Trump’s former spokesperson, Liz Harrington, is leading the charge.
During a recent appearance on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Bongino, who once earned grassroots praise as a fearless whistleblower of Secret Service failures, appeared to parrot the official FBI line, offering a stunning defense of the so-called “investigation” into the Trump rally attack.
Bongino: You know what, Maria? Kash is not kidding. We’ve been personally briefed extensively on every single detail, nugget, and tendril of this case. One is actively in court right now, so out of respect for the case, it’s probably more appropriate that I stay quiet on that.
However, I’m not going to tell people what they want to hear—I’m going to tell you the truth. And whether you like it or not is up to you.
If there was a big, explosive “there” there—given my history as a Secret Service agent and my personal friendship, as the Director does, with the President—give me one logical, sensible reason we would not have [told you]. If you can think of one… there isn’t.
In some of these cases, the “there” you’re looking for is not there. I know people… I get it. I understand. It’s not there. If it was there, we would have told you.
Liz Harrington, Trump’s former spokesperson and trusted ally, obliterated Bongino’s comments.
“I’m sorry, the investigation into J13 is closed? Who were you briefed by? The people who came in, hosed down the crime scene, cremated the body, stonewalled congressional investigators, and lawyered up the family?
There is a “there” there because we know NOTHING about Crooks, or who he was talking to.
If this is true, they need to come out with everything they know about why and HOW a 20 year old pulled that off.
The former FBI director just called for ANOTHER hit on President Trump. We must get serious about what is going on.”
I’m sorry, the investigation into J13 is closed? Who were you briefed by? The people who came in, hosed down the crime scene, cremated the body, stonewalled congressional investigators, and lawyered up the family?
There is a “there” there because we know NOTHING about Crooks, or… pic.twitter.com/PeC34K30R1
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) May 19, 2025
This is a stunning reversal from Bongino’s previous whistleblowing on Secret Service failures. Just last year, he blew the lid off the culture of corruption in the Secret Service.
Thomas Crooks was able to do the following on July 13:
- Flew a drone over the Pennsylvania fairgrounds and got aerial footage of the rally layout on the day of the event – including 2 hours before Trump took the stage.
- Got a range finder through security.
- Evaded law enforcement officers from several different state, local and federal agencies.
- Somehow ‘climbed’ up on a roof with his rifle 450 feet away from Trump, bear crawled to the perfect vantage point as bystanders alerted police and was still able to take 8 shots at Trump.
- Parked a vehicle full of explosives near the Trump rally
- Crooks was able to walk around the premises after Snipers took a photo of him looking suspicious.
- A sniper located in the second story window was only 40 feet away from Crooks and didn’t neutralize him.
- Trump was still able to take the stage after Crooks was pegged as suspicious by Secret Service.
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