On July 13, 2024, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, had a bloodied face during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, the United States. Pugh was assisted by the Secret Service.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
The U.S. Secret Service said Friday it was to blame for the nearly assassination of the former president Donald Trump At a campaign rally in July, he pointed to the “complacency” of some agents and communication gaps with local police.
“As I said, this is a failure of the United States Secret Service,” Ronald Rowe, the agency’s acting director, told a news conference.
It was the first time since the July 13 shooting that the agency has given the public a full account of the internal collapse that led to the attack, which left one spectator dead.
The Secret Service was largely responsible for developing security plans for the presidential campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, where assassin Thomas Crooks opened fire on Trump before he was fatally shot.
But the agency “did not provide clear guidance or direction to our local law enforcement partners,” Rowe said, “and there were communication deficiencies among law enforcement officers on the ground.”
Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet. One rally attendee behind Trump, Corey Comperatore, was killed and two others were seriously injured.
Rowe went on to say that sightline issues at the Republican nominee’s rally were well known but not effectively addressed beforehand.
He added: “While some members of the advance team were extremely diligent, others showed complacency, leading to breaches of security protocols in terms of accountability.”
Luo said these employees will be held accountable.
Rowe took over the Secret Service after former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on July 23, just 10 days after the assassination.
The FBI is investigating another apparent assassination attempt on Trump on Sunday at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
That day, a Secret Service agent opened fire after spotting an apparent rifle in the treeline at the edge of the golf course. Suspect, 58 years old Ryan Wesley RouseHe was arrested later that day and subsequently charged with two federal firearms offenses.
Rowe referenced the golf club incident in a speech on Friday when he called for a “paradigm shift” in how the Secret Service operates to respond to “evolving” threat levels.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
