Staff Reports
In the aftermath of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, serious questions are emerging about the alarming security lapses that almost led to a tragedy in Butler, Pennsylvania. The loss of Corey Comparatore and the injuries suffered by other attendees are already horrific, but the concerning reality is that there were multiple failures that brought the nation perilously close to a catastrophic outcome.
With the attempt fresh in everyone’s minds, it is only logical for there to be doubts and fears about the competence of the U.S. Secret Service. In response, the oversight committees in the U.S. House wasted no time in demanding information and documentation to understand what exactly went wrong.
The House Judiciary Chair, Jim Jordan (R-OH), revealed that whistleblowers have stepped forward to shed light on why the Secret Service may have been understaffed during the rally. In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Jordan highlighted several key issues the committee wishes to address during Wray’s upcoming testimony on July 24, as well as requesting specific documents.
Whistleblowers reveal Secret Service was understaffed at Trump rally because the agency was covering the NATO summit in D.C.
Americans deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/5QpeGTYANS
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 18, 2024
According to the whistleblowers, the Secret Service held two briefings on July 8, 2024, with the Western Pennsylvania Fusion Center (WPFC) and other stakeholders to discuss the upcoming campaign rally on July 13. During these briefings, USSS Special Agent in Charge Tim Burke reportedly informed law enforcement partners that the Secret Service had limited resources that week due to their coverage of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, D.C. It is worth noting that FBI personnel were present at these briefings. While the FBI is just one of many agencies represented in the WPFC, it is the leading federal investigative arm and a significant source of intelligence for special events in its jurisdiction.
Despite the NATO Summit taking place from July 9 to July 11, mere days before the rally, the Secret Service was seemingly aware of their stretched-thin resources and the need for increased security for events involving the first lady and former president. Shockingly, even with recent intelligence regarding a plot to assassinate Trump, the agency proceeded with the events without taking sufficient action.
While there is currently no evidence suggesting that the shooter acted in collaboration with others or on their orders, his motives remain unknown. However, the fact remains that a 20-year-old managed to kill a 50-year-old husband and father, injure several others, and push the United States to the brink of disaster. Now, imagine if there had been a coordinated effort by sophisticated actors, considering the alarming security vulnerabilities that are now coming to light. An unsecured rooftop just 150 yards away from the former president? No problem. An unprepared Secret Service egress plan? No problem. Agents who are physically incapable of shielding a 6’3″ president? No problem. An unobstructed “person of interest” with a range finder in the vicinity? No problem. They simply let Trump approach the podium and hoped for the best.
Saturday was a disastrous culmination of multiple failures. We need swift and comprehensive answers. The time to act is now.
