After the assassination attempt on Trump in July, it was already clear that the security concept for the event was inadequate. A Senate report reveals details of the Secret Service’s mistakes.
A new investigative report reveals serious failings by the Secret Service a good two months after the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump in the state of Pennsylvania. The errors were “foreseeable and avoidable,” according to the bipartisan report by a US Senate committee. Officials from local law enforcement agencies and the Secret Service were interviewed for the report. The Secret Service is responsible for protecting high-ranking politicians – including the incumbent president, but also former officeholders or presidential candidates such as Trump.
Communication problems of the security forces
In July, a gunman opened fire at a Republican Party campaign event in Butler and shot Trump. One visitor died and two others were injured. Trump was wounded in the right ear. The perpetrator was killed by security forces. The Secret Service had already admitted specific mistakes after the assassination. The then head, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned.
The committee now concludes that communication and coordination problems between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have still not been resolved. The Secret Service also failed to clarify responsibilities for planning and security at the event before the rally. For example, no visual barriers were erected around the rally.
Additional staff denied
Information about the suspect was not passed on, although local police had already spotted the man and the Secret Service had been informed about him 27 minutes before the shooting. There were also problems with the radios, the report says. Additional personnel requested by the Secret Service before the rally were denied without explanation. The building from whose roof the shooter opened fire was not adequately secured before the event, according to the report.
A week ago, another incident occurred: The Secret Service shot at a gunman who was hiding in the bushes at Trump’s golf course in Florida while the former president was playing there. The suspect did not fire a bullet and fled, but was arrested and charged shortly afterwards. The Senate committee announced that it would also question the security forces responsible for this matter.
Source: Stern
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