A new Senate report exposes a series of critical failures by the U.S. Secret Service that allowed would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks to shoot former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to the Daily Mail, the bipartisan Senate Homeland Security Committee investigation found that the security lapses at the July 13 rally were "foreseeable, preventable, and directly related to the events resulting in the assassination attempt that day."
The report highlights several concerning issues, including technical problems that grounded Secret Service drones, inadequate communication between security personnel, and a lack of clear leadership during the event. These factors ultimately contributed to Crooks successfully firing eight rounds at Trump from a nearby building, striking the former president in the ear.
One of the most alarming revelations in the Senate report was the failure of the Secret Service's Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) drones. The agent responsible for overseeing the drones had only three months of experience with the equipment and resorted to calling a toll-free tech support hotline when issues arose.
The drone problems persisted for several hours, leaving a significant gap in aerial surveillance. This lapse in coverage is believed to have played a crucial role in allowing Crooks to position himself undetected on the roof of a nearby building.
Sen. Gary Peters, the Democratic chairman of the Homeland Security panel, stressed the seriousness of these mistakes, stating that the failures had severe consequences.
The Senate investigation also uncovered severe communication issues among security personnel at the rally. Officials were operating on multiple, separate radio channels, leading to missed communications and delayed responses to potential threats.
Moreover, the Secret Service reportedly denied specific on-the-ground requests for additional C-UAS drone capabilities and a Counter Assault Team liaison. These decisions, coupled with the lack of a clear chain of command, created a perfect storm of security vulnerabilities.
Perhaps most troubling is the revelation that local law enforcement had notified the Secret Service about an armed individual on the roof of a nearby building approximately two minutes before Crooks opened fire. However, this critical information was not relayed to key Secret Service personnel in time to prevent the shooting.
Sen. Rand Paul, the leading Republican on the panel, highlighted the report by stating that it pointed to multiple human errors within the Secret Service.
The Senate report concludes with several recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. These include better defining roles and responsibilities before protective events, improving communication protocols, and designating a single individual in charge of approving all security plans.
Additionally, the report suggests that Congress should evaluate whether more resources are needed for the Secret Service. However, there is disagreement among lawmakers about whether to provide additional funding before implementing internal reforms.
The Secret Service's failures during the July 13 rally led to a shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The Senate report reveals critical lapses in drone operations, communication, and resource allocation. As investigations continue, lawmakers and security officials must work to address these vulnerabilities to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of high-profile individuals at public events.
