July 24th 2024.
During a House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday, a local law enforcement commissioner made shocking revelations about the security failures that almost resulted in the assassination of former President Donald Trump. This has raised more concerns about the effectiveness of the US Secret Service.
Commissioner Christopher Paris, from the Pennsylvania State Police, gave a compelling testimony just a day after former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle appeared before the House Oversight Committee. However, Cheatle was not able to provide answers about the shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania.
Paris informed the lawmakers about the communication between the Secret Service and the local law enforcement who first spotted the potential assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. He also provided a detailed timeline of events, from the moment officers first noticed Crooks in the crowd to when he opened fire on Trump.
Here's what we learned from Tuesday's hearing:
Officer left post to look for Crooks
According to Paris' testimony, two local law enforcement officers left their designated posts in a building with a view of the roof where Crooks was positioned before he fired shots. However, the local district attorney later stated that the building was never left unattended.
Paris stated that two officers from the Butler County Emergency Services Unit, who had sniper capabilities, left their posts to search for a suspicious individual, whom they had spotted and alerted other law enforcement about. This individual was later identified as Crooks.
But on Wednesday, Butler County DA Richard Goldinger disputed this claim, saying that only one of the ESU officers briefly left the building to search for Crooks. Goldinger clarified that both officers remained within the building, with one of them keeping an eye on Crooks from the second floor. It was only when Crooks ran off that one of the officers went out to search for him.
Crooks fired eight times
Paris revealed that investigators believe Crooks fired a total of eight rounds before he was taken down by counter-snipers. This information was not previously disclosed and only confirmed that multiple shots were fired at the rally.
Paris also mentioned that during a walkthrough of the area before the rally, several Secret Service agents had informed the state police area commander that it was the responsibility of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit to secure the building where Crooks had fired shots.
Minutes on the roof
During the hearing, Paris also shared that a municipal officer had come face-to-face with Crooks during the few minutes that he was on the roof before firing at Trump. This happened when a pair of local officers attempted to climb up and confront Crooks, but while one officer was dangling from the roof, Crooks aimed his rifle at him and the officer fell.
Paris clarified that Crooks was on the roof for approximately three minutes, but only a few seconds had passed between the officer's confrontation and when Crooks fired at Trump. He also corrected the timeframe he had given earlier in the hearing.
He explained that when one officer hoisted the other up, Crooks was already in his final position and within seconds, the first shots were fired. Paris also mentioned that it is still under investigation if and when this confrontation was reported to the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies at the rally.
Communications between Secret Service and local law enforcement
Paris provided details about the communication between different law enforcement agencies regarding Crooks before Trump took the stage at the rally. He stated that there was a text thread between members of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit, who initially spotted Crooks and reported him as a suspicious individual.
He also mentioned that when Crooks used a range finder, the suspicion was heightened. State Police immediately received a call and a text from the ESU about Crooks' activity, which they then relayed to the Secret Service. All local, state, and federal law enforcement were working together in a unified command post at the rally. Paris stated that the State Police immediately passed on the information to the Secret Service.
It is clear that the security failures at the rally, which almost resulted in the assassination of the former president, have raised many questions for the US Secret Service. The House Homeland Security hearing has provided some valuable insights, but it is evident that further investigations are still ongoing.
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