Carlson says ‘terrified’ Bongino told him Trump shut down Butler probe

WASHINGTON, DC: The long-time Trump ally-turned-harsh critic and political commentator, Tucker Carlson, in his latest appearance on a podcast with Mario Nawfal on Thursday, June 11, revealed a bombshell detail about the status of the investigation into Butler's assassination attempt.

Tucker Carlson claimed that a “terrified” and “hysterical” Dan Bongino told him President Donald Trump had shut down the investigation into the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Bongino has since rejected the allegation.

Notably, the former Fox News host recently announced that he no longer supports Trump and said that he regrets “misleading people” over his past support for Donald Trump, admitting “we’ll be tormented by it for a long time.”

Carlson discusses Butler probe with Bongino, Patel

Joining Mario Nawfal, the former Fox News host, detailed his interaction with Dan Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel about the investigation into the 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.  

Thomas Crooks was killed by law enforcement moments after opening fire from a rooftop overlooking the rally venue.

Investigators have yet to identify a clear motive, with the absence of a manifesto or significant online footprint fueling speculation and conspiracy theories about the shooting.

Carlson said he came into possession of what he described as social media posts made by Thomas Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and claimed the material contradicted previous assertions that such posts did not exist.

The conservative commentator said he contacted FBI Director Kash Patel and later spoke with Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino about the matter, stressing that he was not accusing the current FBI leadership of wrongdoing.

According to Carlson, Bongino reacted strongly to the information and became increasingly uneasy during a series of phone calls and text exchanges.

Carlson alleged that Bongino ultimately told him, "Look, take it up with Trump. He's the one who shut down the investigation."

Carlson said the remark led him to question why an investigation into an attempt on Trump's life would be halted, arguing that the explanation surrounding the Butler shooting remained unresolved.

Don Bongino denies claims by Carlson

Bongino responded to Carlson’s claim in an X post on Friday morning, denying it and slamming the former Fox News host as a “nepo baby.”

“More receipts incoming on my show today that the nepo baby is lying again,” he wrote on X. “He’s like Teddy Ruxpin, you put a coin in his back and he tells you a story.”

“He spent his campaign in the 2024 race arguing against regime change war, attacking people in favor of it — and then he launched it,” he said. “And not just launched it, but became this kind of, enthusiastic tool of the government of Israel.”