November 1st 2024.
A recent report from the Secret Service has shed light on the events surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July. The report revealed that several staff members were aware of potential risks but deemed them acceptable. It also stated that equipment intended to block the gunman's view was not utilized.
The shooting, which took place at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, resulted in the death of one person and injuries to two others. The former President himself was shot in the ear before being quickly escorted off the stage. The gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
The report, which was released on Friday, included both a classified version shared with members of Congress and a seven-page unclassified summary made public. This is just one of several investigations into the incident.
The report highlighted the poor communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement and their failure to prevent the gunman from accessing a nearby building just 130m from the podium where Trump was speaking. It also delved into the intense scrutiny the agency faced for their perceived failure in protecting top US leaders.
One major issue identified in the report was the failure to address line-of-sight risks posed by nearby buildings. According to the report, Secret Service personnel deemed these risks acceptable and did not take enough measures to eliminate them. This ultimately led to Crooks gaining an unobstructed view of the podium, allowing him to fire eight shots before being killed.
The report also revealed that supervisors had expected large pieces of farm equipment to be used to block the view between the buildings and the stage, but they were not utilized. It did not provide an explanation for this, but it did state that the staff who visited the site prior to the rally did not inform their supervisors that this issue had not been resolved.
Another contributing factor to the failure was the breakdown in communication between different law enforcement agencies involved in the event. The report noted that only one agency had a representative in the designated security room, while others were in a separate room. This lack of coordination and follow-up resulted in key information not being shared and contributed to the overall failure of the mission.
The report also mentioned the high temperatures on the day of the rally and the resulting need to assist rallygoers who were experiencing heat-related issues. This diverted the attention of security personnel and may have played a role in the failure to adequately address security concerns.
The report did not specify if any Secret Service personnel had been fired or reprimanded as a result of their performance during the incident. However, it did acknowledge that corrective counseling or disciplinary action may be necessary for some staff members and promised accountability for any violations of agency policy. The Office of Integrity will now review the findings.
It was previously reported that at least five Secret Service agents were placed on modified duty, and the then-director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned, taking full responsibility for the lapse. The release of this report is another step towards understanding the events of that day and ensuring that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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