FBI produces Tennessee’s Covenant school shooter manifesto and other writings

The FBI has turned over writings from the Covenant school shooter to a federal judge, including the killer’s manifesto, which will be read privately by the judge. 

Star News Digital Media Inc., the parent company of The Tennessee Star, sued the FBI in May claiming the bureau had violated the First Amendment by rejecting multiple Freedom of Information Act requests for the Covenant School shooter’s manifesto.

U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger sided with the Tennessee Star last month, in seeking the manifesto, and other relevant written documents from shooter Audrey Hale, who killed three students and three faculty members in the Nashville school shooting. 

Trauger will review the documents privately, before deciding whether to share the writings with the plaintiffs, the Tennessee Star reported on Monday.

“Pursuant to this Court’s Order dated March 15, 2024, ECF No. 42, the FBI notifies the Court that today, April 17, 2024, the FBI provided the requested records to the Court for its ex parte, in camera review,” the FBI said in its formal notification.

Trauger previously said that there was “significant public interest” in the shooter’s manifesto, where a few pages were leaked by conservative commentator Steven Crowder last November. The leaked pages revealed anti-white writings, and that Hale was transgender and signed the pages as “Aidan.” Hale was born female, but identified as a man.

Attorney Daniel Lennington, who represents Star News Digital Media, said that the judge’s ruling last month was a “promising development.” 

“Someone is finally holding the FBI accountable for its handling of the manifesto,” Lennington said at the time. “The people have a right to know what motivated the Nashville Shooter, and we are step closer to finding out more information.”