Secret Service Suspends Five Agents After Near-Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump

Five Secret Service agents have been suspended following a near-assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, raising serious questions about the agency’s security protocols.

At a Glance

Five Secret Service agents, including one from Trump’s personal protective team, placed on leave
Assassination attempt occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13
Gunman killed one person and injured two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper
Congress and FBI are investigating the incident and the Secret Service’s handling of the rally

Agents Suspended Amid Security Breach Investigation

In a move that underscores the gravity of the situation, the U.S. Secret Service has suspended at least five agents following the near-assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The suspensions include one member of Trump’s personal protective team and four members from the Pittsburgh Field Office, signaling a broad-reaching investigation into potential security lapses.

The incident, which occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, has sent shockwaves through the agency and raised critical questions about the effectiveness of current security protocols for safeguarding former presidents. Trump was grazed by a bullet during the attack, which resulted in one fatality and two injuries among the crowd.

BREAKING: Multiple Secret Service agents put on leave following Trump assassination attempt https://t.co/L6b0HwGI0r

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 23, 2024

Details of the Assassination Attempt

The gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, fired eight rounds from a rooftop before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper. The attack claimed the life of Corey Comperatore, a Pennsylvania father and firefighter, highlighting the tragic consequences of the security breach. The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, with particular focus on why the gunman’s position was not secured in advance, despite being a known vulnerability.

“Someone should have been on the roof or securing the building so no one could get on the roof” NBC quoted one of the sources as saying.

Eyewitnesses reported spotting the gunman on the roof and alerting police, but he continued to move before opening fire. More alarmingly, it has come to light that Crooks was already on officials’ radar for suspicious behavior near event magnetometers, raising questions about the response time and communication between different security teams.

Investigation and Accountability

The Secret Service has initiated what spokesman Anthony Guglielmi calls a “mission assurance review” to examine the processes, procedures, and factors that led to this operational failure. Acting Director Ronald Rowe has vowed to investigate the failures that allowed the gunman to open fire, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to holding personnel to the highest professional standards.

“The U.S. Secret Service’s mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure,” Anthony Guglielmi, the USSS chief of communications said in a statement.

Congress has also stepped in, with a House task force and senators demanding extensive records from law enforcement agencies. The incident has led to the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service at the time, who faced scrutiny and declined to provide specifics about the investigation.

USSS has placed multiple agents on leave following Trump assassination attempt. https://t.co/YMBsyqlpSC
https://t.co/qhCuROzw7r

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 23, 2024

Impact on Security Protocols

The near-assassination attempt has sparked a reassessment of security measures for protecting former presidents and other high-profile figures. Trump’s first outdoor rally since the shooting featured increased security precautions, including surrounding the former president with bulletproof glass.

Questions have been raised about the reliance on local police and whether they were properly briefed for such high-stakes events. There are also concerns that the Secret Service may have been “spread too thin” and potentially under-resourced for the rally. A whistleblower claimed that officials discouraged agents from requesting extra security for the event, further complicating the narrative.

As the investigations continue, both internal and external, the Secret Service faces the challenge of rebuilding public trust and ensuring that such a security lapse never occurs again. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect our nation’s leaders and the potential consequences when those measures fall short.