A lawsuit has been filed against federal agencies for allegedly concealing crucial information about a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
As reported by Breitbart News, America First Legal (AFL) has taken legal action against the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for failing to provide requested records related to the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump.
The organization claims that these agencies have illegally withheld important documents despite expedited requests. The lawsuit comes after AFL launched multiple investigations on July 16, 2024, seeking information about the incident that nearly claimed the former president's life. The assassination attempt, which resulted in a grazing shot to Trump's head, has raised serious concerns about security measures and agency preparedness.
AFL's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests covered a wide range of documents related to the assassination attempt and the agencies' operations.
The organization sought information on potential staffing shortages within the Secret Service, as well as the agency's hiring and employment standards. Additionally, AFL requested communications involving DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and two other senior DHS officials, Kristie Canegello and Jonathan Davidson, from the day of the attempt.
Calendars of key Secret Service officials, including the director and deputy director, were also among the requested documents. Despite meeting all legal standards for expedited processing, AFL claims it has not received any of the requested records to date.
According to AFL, the Secret Service initially denied expedited processing for the request regarding staffing shortages. The agency claimed there was no threat to anyone's life or safety and no urgency to inform the public about government activity. However, AFL noted that the Secret Service granted expedited processing for another FOIA request using the same justifications.
This inconsistency in the agency's response has raised questions about transparency and the handling of information related to the assassination attempt. Even some Democrats have expressed frustration with the lack of response from DHS.
The issue of transparency regarding the assassination attempt has garnered attention from both sides of the political aisle. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, expressed his growing frustration with DHS's lack of response. He described the department's actions as "tantamount to stonewalling in many respects."
On the Republican side, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced an amendment directing the Secret Service to release all information pertaining to the July 13 assassination attempt. This amendment passed unanimously in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, highlighting the bipartisan concern over the lack of information.
Senator Ron Johnson, the Ranking Member of the Senate HSGAC Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has raised concerns about the lack of crucial documents. He noted that the Secret Service has not provided the autopsy report of the would-be assassin, Matthew Thomas Crooks, nor have they shared trajectory reports or information about the handling of the crime scene.
Johnson also mentioned that he has been unable to interview the Secret Service sniper who neutralized Crooks. These unanswered questions have fueled demands for greater transparency and accountability from the agencies involved.
America First Legal has filed a lawsuit against the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security for withholding records related to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The organization's FOIA requests for various documents, including information on staffing shortages and agency communications, have gone unanswered despite meeting legal standards for expedited processing. This lack of transparency has drawn criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, leading to ongoing investigations and demands for full disclosure of information surrounding the incident.
