Report reveals Secret Service had 'multiple failures' before Trump shooting event
The Secret Service has acknowledged that a number of tactical and communication errors permitted a gunman to shoot at the former president. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
An internal review by the US Secret Service has revealed that “multiple operational and communications failures” within the agency enabled a gunman to fire upon former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in July.
While addressing a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump narrowly escaped injury when a bullet, shot from approximately 150 meters away, grazed his ear. The shooter, identified as 21-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from an unprotected rooftop, resulting in the death of one rally attendee and injuring two others before being killed by a sniper.
Following the incident, it was reported that local police had spotted Crooks using a range-finder an hour prior to the shooting and had forwarded a photograph to Secret Service agents. Although the agents observed the gunman on the roof 20 minutes before the shooting started, they did not take any action until shots were fired.
In a preliminary report issued on Friday, the Secret Service indicated that local law enforcement was tasked with securing the roof where the shooter was stationed. However, the report noted that there had been no communication between the officers assigned to the building and the Secret Service.
The report also highlighted that crucial information about the shooter, provided by local law enforcement, did not reach the Secret Service. This was attributed to insufficient radio communication among the agencies present at the rally, leading to delays in transmitting details about Crooks’ appearance and movements through phone calls and text messages.
Before the rally commenced, Crooks was able to operate a camera-equipped drone over the event without intervention. The report mentioned that although a counter-drone team had been dispatched, “there were some technical difficulties” with their equipment.
Regarding the choice of rally location, the Secret Service team had previously assessed the site and recognized that the visibility from the rooftop to the stage where Trump spoke could be problematic. However, the report noted that “the security measures to alleviate these concerns were not carried out.”
The internal investigation is still in progress, with a final report anticipated in the coming weeks. Much of the summary released on Friday appeared to assign responsibility to local law enforcement. Nevertheless, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe expressed that the agency requires “a shift in paradigm in how we conduct our protective operations.”
Rowe’s predecessor, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned ten days after the shooting, and several senior agents were placed on administrative leave during the ongoing investigation.
Recently, Trump faced another life-threatening situation when a pro-Ukraine activist aimed a rifle at him at one of his golf courses in Florida. The Secret Service agents responded by firing multiple shots at the man, who was subsequently arrested after fleeing the scene.
Earlier this week, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz suggested that some GOP lawmakers suspect the presence of a “mole inside the Secret Service providing information about points of vulnerability” to potential attackers.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
While addressing a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump narrowly escaped injury when a bullet, shot from approximately 150 meters away, grazed his ear. The shooter, identified as 21-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired from an unprotected rooftop, resulting in the death of one rally attendee and injuring two others before being killed by a sniper.
Following the incident, it was reported that local police had spotted Crooks using a range-finder an hour prior to the shooting and had forwarded a photograph to Secret Service agents. Although the agents observed the gunman on the roof 20 minutes before the shooting started, they did not take any action until shots were fired.
In a preliminary report issued on Friday, the Secret Service indicated that local law enforcement was tasked with securing the roof where the shooter was stationed. However, the report noted that there had been no communication between the officers assigned to the building and the Secret Service.
The report also highlighted that crucial information about the shooter, provided by local law enforcement, did not reach the Secret Service. This was attributed to insufficient radio communication among the agencies present at the rally, leading to delays in transmitting details about Crooks’ appearance and movements through phone calls and text messages.
Before the rally commenced, Crooks was able to operate a camera-equipped drone over the event without intervention. The report mentioned that although a counter-drone team had been dispatched, “there were some technical difficulties” with their equipment.
Regarding the choice of rally location, the Secret Service team had previously assessed the site and recognized that the visibility from the rooftop to the stage where Trump spoke could be problematic. However, the report noted that “the security measures to alleviate these concerns were not carried out.”
The internal investigation is still in progress, with a final report anticipated in the coming weeks. Much of the summary released on Friday appeared to assign responsibility to local law enforcement. Nevertheless, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe expressed that the agency requires “a shift in paradigm in how we conduct our protective operations.”
Rowe’s predecessor, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned ten days after the shooting, and several senior agents were placed on administrative leave during the ongoing investigation.
Recently, Trump faced another life-threatening situation when a pro-Ukraine activist aimed a rifle at him at one of his golf courses in Florida. The Secret Service agents responded by firing multiple shots at the man, who was subsequently arrested after fleeing the scene.
Earlier this week, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz suggested that some GOP lawmakers suspect the presence of a “mole inside the Secret Service providing information about points of vulnerability” to potential attackers.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
