Inside the Vegas Cybertruck explosion: The classified Manifesto, government secrecy, and a story that won’t add up

A newly released Las Vegas police report has intensified scrutiny around the deadly Cybertruck explosion at the Trump International Hotel, raising fresh questions after authorities confirmed that a manifesto written by the driver has now been classified by the Pentagon.

The incident occurred on New Year’s Day 2025 when 37-year-old Matthew Liveberger, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran from Colorado Springs, pulled a rented Tesla Cybertruck up to the hotel’s valet entrance before it exploded, injuring seven people and killing Liveberger. According to investigators, Liveberger had stocked the vehicle with fireworks, gas canisters and camping fuel, and is believed to have shot himself moments before the blast.

Before travelling to Las Vegas, Liveberger reportedly emailed a lengthy manifesto to retired Army intelligence officer Sam Shoemate, instructing him not to release it until January 1. In that message, Liveberger railed against what he described as a collapsing and corrupt U.S. government, claimed knowledge of covert drone programmes and war crimes, accused senior officials of betraying service members, and warned that the nation was being led by “weak and feckless” leaders.

However, despite strong public interest, neither the email nor the full manifesto will be released. Investigators confirmed twice in their report that the Pentagon—under the Biden administration—moved quickly to classify the document, a decision that forced Las Vegas police to stop sharing further information with the public.

Redacted host Clayton Morris interviewed Brianna Mel, now a Pentagon-credentialed reporter and host at Infowars, who has been pushing to obtain details about the classified writings. Mel said the Department of Defense told her they would respond after consulting with national intelligence officials, but no explanation has been provided.

“If there’s truly classified information in there, fine,” Mel said. “But the American people deserve a justification for why.”

The lack of clarity around the motive has fuelled speculation, especially given that Liveberger’s email circulated across mainstream news outlets, military circles and even UFO forums. Questions have also arisen about whether Liveberger may have referenced advanced weapons or propulsion technologies—subjects tied to previous military whistleblower claims.

Shoemate, who received the original email, told Mel he still cannot determine whether Liveberger was exposing legitimate government wrongdoing or experiencing severe emotional distress, a challenge common in assessing communications from distressed veterans.

The story has been further complicated by allegations that federal agencies may have provided inaccurate information to reporters. According to Mel, media outlets investigating the explosion were given conflicting or false details, including claims that Liveberger’s DNA did not match his child’s—a statement later said to be untrue and deeply distressing to his family.

The FBI also initially downplayed Liveberger’s email until officials later confirmed its authenticity in a press conference.

Mel compared the inconsistent federal responses to other high-profile cases where authorities were accused of shaping narratives while withholding key facts. “This looks like a massive cover-up,” she said, arguing that the government’s rapid decision to classify the manifesto suggests it contains information officials do not want public.

With authorities declining to disclose the motivation behind the attack and refusing to release Liveberger’s writings, major questions remain unanswered. The case continues to spark nationwide debate over transparency, government accountability, and the handling of politically sensitive incidents involving military veterans.