America First Legal has released the academic records of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man responsible for the first assassination attempt against President Trump on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The records paint a picture far from the stereotype of a troubled or radicalized individual, showing Crooks as a straight-A student with an impeccable academic track record.
America First Legal, alongside counsel Wally Zimolong, waged a months-long legal battle to obtain Crooks’ student records under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law (RTKL). AFL’s determination to shed light on Crooks’ past underscores the organization’s commitment to transparency, even in the face of resistance.
Here is a timeline of their efforts:
- July 17, 2024: AFL filed an RTKL request with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) seeking Crooks’ student files.
- August 18, 2024: CCAC denied the request, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
- September 10, 2024: AFL appealed CCAC’s denial to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
- November 19, 2024: The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records issued a final determination, compelling CCAC to release the records.
This legal victory has paved the way for a deeper understanding of Crooks’ background.
Crooks scored an impressive 1390 on the SAT in March 2021 and a staggering 1530 on the SAT in March 2022. The perfect score for the SAT is 1600.
Crooks’ score of 1530 is extremely high and places him in the 99th percentile, meaning he outperformed 99% of test-takers nationwide.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 with an unblemished record and a near-perfect GPA.
Crooks, a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School, demonstrated a history of academic brilliance. His cumulative Weighted GPA of 4.031 and Non-Weighted GPA of 3.813 reflect his consistent excellence across challenging courses.
In his final year, Crooks took demanding Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. Government & Politics, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB, earning straight A’s across the board.
A College Board report dated July 5, 2022, details Crooks’ Advanced Placement (AP) exam results for 2022.
Crooks pursued studies at the University of Pittsburgh from 2018 to 2022, maintaining his reputation as a top student.
After transferring to the Community College of Allegheny County in 2021, Crooks continued to excel academically, planning to return to the University of Pittsburgh to study mechanical engineering.
According to the transcript from the Community College of Allegheny County, Crooks maintained an exemplary academic record, graduating with honors from the engineering science program.
His transcript reveals consistent high performance, with a near-perfect GPA and multiple semesters earning straight A’s. Notably, he excelled in subjects like calculus, physics, and chemistry.
How could someone with such a pristine academic record commit such a heinous act? What led Crooks down a path of violence?
You can view all the documents at America First Legal.
