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It has been the better part of a year since Thomas Crooks tried to assassinate now-President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania — and we’re somehow just learning that he attempted to acquire explosives that could, depending on how they were used, take down an entire building.

The revelation came as part of a CBS News report last week with the title “Trump shooter Thomas Crooks’ emails reveal a student dreaming of a bright future. And contemplating a violent attack.” Gotta love that order.

Indeed, the look at his emails provided CBS’ writers with one of those opens only a feature writer could love:

Thomas Matthew Crooks had a lot on his mind in January 2024.

The 20-year-old who, six months later, would open fire at President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally — striking his ear and killing an audience member — was busy polishing his applications to transfer from community college to a four-year engineering program.

Crooks was gathering transcripts and asking friends to review his personal statement.

He was also designing a bomb.

Oh. Yeah, kind of an important fact to throw into the mix. . .

>It has been the better part of a year since Thomas Crooks tried to assassinate now-President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania — and we’re somehow just learning that he attempted to acquire explosives that could, depending on how they were used, take down an entire building. >The revelation came as part of a CBS News report last week with the title “Trump shooter Thomas Crooks’ emails reveal a student dreaming of a bright future. And contemplating a violent attack.” Gotta love that order. >Indeed, the look at his emails provided CBS’ writers with one of those opens only a feature writer could love: >Thomas Matthew Crooks had a lot on his mind in January 2024. >The 20-year-old who, six months later, would open fire at President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally — striking his ear and killing an audience member — was busy polishing his applications to transfer from community college to a four-year engineering program. >Crooks was gathering transcripts and asking friends to review his personal statement. >He was also designing a bomb. >Oh. Yeah, kind of an important fact to throw into the mix. . . [Archive](https://archive.today/hiwR1)

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[–] • 2 pts

Only about 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate would need to be added to the nitromethane to make a bomb with a blast radius capable of destroying a small building.

I call horseshit on their hypothesis. The ammonium nitrate is pure speculation. As for using nitromethane to sensitize it and make an ANFO variant, why not just use fuel oil, kerosene or diesel? They're all more readily available and cheaper. The nitro methane wouldn't add that much bang for the buck - and apparently it is also somewhat tracked or monitored. And apparently he used his real name when he ordered it. And an encrypted email doesn't necessarily mean shit - particularly when he followed up with his college email addy.

This "story" is a half bucket of very dilute whitewash being wielded by some absolute halfwits. So why is that?

[–] • 1 pt

I bought a quart of Klotz nitro methane fuel additive when I was 16 (for my snowmobile), no problem. You could order it straight out of the Dennis Kirk Parts catalogue. I dunno if it was as pure as what this kid had. Agree, fuel oil and maybe a propane ignition would be cheaper/less traceable to ignite nitrates. Nice analysis.