Report: US Secret Service had ‘multiple failures’ before Trump shooting incident
The Secret Service has acknowledged that a combination of tactical and communication failures enabled a gunman to fire upon the former president. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The agency has acknowledged in an internal review that certain security protocols "were not carried out," following a serious security breach involving former President Donald Trump.
An internal review revealed multiple "operational and communications failures" by the US Secret Service led to a near-fatal incident for Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the event in July, Trump narrowly escaped death when a bullet, fired by 21-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from about 150 meters away, grazed his ear. Crooks, who was positioned on an unprotected rooftop, also shot and killed one individual and wounded two others before being neutralized by a sniper.
Investigations post-incident unveiled that local police had identified Crooks an hour prior to the shooting and had informed the Secret Service agents. However, the agents only took action after the gunman started shooting, despite having spotted him on the rooftop 20 minutes before the shooting began.
The preliminary report issued on Friday pointed out that the local police were initially tasked with securing the rooftop. It further highlighted that there was no direct communication between the officers at that station and the Secret Service agents present.
The report also indicated that there were gaps in communication due to inadequate radio interoperability among the teams at the rally, resulting in critical information about Crooks being delayed as it had to be passed through phone calls and text messages.
The incident also saw Crooks deploying a drone over the rally site which went undetected due to "some technical difficulties" faced by the Secret Service's counter-drone team.
It was noted in the report that the Secret Service had previously identified potential risks with the venue's layout, especially the direct line of sight from the rooftop to the stage. Despite these concerns, the necessary safeguards "were not carried out."
The investigation into these security lapses is ongoing, with a comprehensive report expected soon. Despite many in the report pointing fingers at local law enforcement, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe emphasized the need for "a shift in paradigm in how we conduct our protective operations.”
Following the incident, Kimberly Cheatle, the previous director, resigned, and several senior agents have been sidelined pending the outcome of the investigation.
Additional concerns have been raised about the safety of the former president following a reported second assassination attempt this month by a pro-Ukraine activist in Florida. This event has prompted further scrutiny and claims from Republican Representative Matt Gaetz suggesting the potential compromise within the agency by a "mole," further complicating the security dynamics.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
An internal review revealed multiple "operational and communications failures" by the US Secret Service led to a near-fatal incident for Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the event in July, Trump narrowly escaped death when a bullet, fired by 21-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from about 150 meters away, grazed his ear. Crooks, who was positioned on an unprotected rooftop, also shot and killed one individual and wounded two others before being neutralized by a sniper.
Investigations post-incident unveiled that local police had identified Crooks an hour prior to the shooting and had informed the Secret Service agents. However, the agents only took action after the gunman started shooting, despite having spotted him on the rooftop 20 minutes before the shooting began.
The preliminary report issued on Friday pointed out that the local police were initially tasked with securing the rooftop. It further highlighted that there was no direct communication between the officers at that station and the Secret Service agents present.
The report also indicated that there were gaps in communication due to inadequate radio interoperability among the teams at the rally, resulting in critical information about Crooks being delayed as it had to be passed through phone calls and text messages.
The incident also saw Crooks deploying a drone over the rally site which went undetected due to "some technical difficulties" faced by the Secret Service's counter-drone team.
It was noted in the report that the Secret Service had previously identified potential risks with the venue's layout, especially the direct line of sight from the rooftop to the stage. Despite these concerns, the necessary safeguards "were not carried out."
The investigation into these security lapses is ongoing, with a comprehensive report expected soon. Despite many in the report pointing fingers at local law enforcement, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe emphasized the need for "a shift in paradigm in how we conduct our protective operations.”
Following the incident, Kimberly Cheatle, the previous director, resigned, and several senior agents have been sidelined pending the outcome of the investigation.
Additional concerns have been raised about the safety of the former president following a reported second assassination attempt this month by a pro-Ukraine activist in Florida. This event has prompted further scrutiny and claims from Republican Representative Matt Gaetz suggesting the potential compromise within the agency by a "mole," further complicating the security dynamics.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
