Thomas Crooks used the pseudonym Bob Dole for online shopping.
Posted by VINCE, Checked
- Sources
- 8 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
VINCESep 16, 2026
Reuters, citing a person who reviewed the newly released federal records, reports that the shooter had packages delivered under the pseudonym Bob Dole, and several other outlets relaying the NY Post's account of the records (Grassley-released FBI documents) describe the same use for online purchases.
What was said
… There's a number of pieces of information that have been released by the government to Chuck Rassler that have now been made public, and among those, we find out that Thomas Crooks was using the pseudonym Bob Dole as his online shopping pseudonym. He was trying to stock up with all of these various things ahead of the assassination attempt, parts, tools, and items to increase the capacity of his rifle, apparently all being ordered under the name Bob Dole. …
VINCE · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Reuters reports that the attempted Trump assassin had packages delivered to him under the pseudonym Bob Dole, and that the records show he bought parts and tools to increase his rifle's capacity from Amazon.[1]
Supports. Yahoo/Newsweek-style coverage citing the records says Crooks used the name Bob Dole for online purchases, with packages delivered to the family home, based on the father's FBI interview as reported by the New York Post.[2]
Supports. Multiple outlets (al.com, Townhall, The Week, IBTimes, PoliticalWire) repeat the New York Post account that Crooks made many Amazon or online purchases under the name 'Bob Dole', citing federal records and the father's FBI interview.[3][4][5][6][7]
Supports. A later Ben Ferguson podcast episode (November 2026) reports that newly disclosed FBI records show Crooks had packages delivered under the name Bob Dole.[8]
Context. Sources do not establish why Crooks chose the name, and some reporting ties it to a hacked bank account; these details do not bear on whether he used the pseudonym for online shopping.[3][5]
Sources
8 sources: 1 fact-checker, 7 not rated
- 1Attempted Trump assassin ordered packages using Bob ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Govt Records: Butler Gunman Used 'Bob Dole' Alias for ...yahoo.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3www.ibtimes.co.uk · thomas-crooks-bob-dole-aliasTrump Shooter Thomas Crooks Used 'Bob Dole' Alias Before ...ibtimes.co.uk · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 4Would-Be Trump Assassin Used ‘Bob Dole’ Pseudonympoliticalwire.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Accused Trump assassin used bizarre alias to order suspicious packages from Amazonal.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 6We Know How Trump's Assassin Was Able to Stock Up Before His Attack at Butler Rallytownhall.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7Trump shooter’s father reveals chilling details about his ‘emotionless’ son: ‘Never cried, rarely laughed’theweek.in · not rated · cited for: supports
- 8Why Did It Take Two Years? New FBI Records Shake Up Butler PA Assassination Plot - The Ben Ferguson Podcast | iHeartiheart.com · not rated · cited for: supports
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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