Bipartisan House Report: Secret Service Failures Led to Preventable July 13 Trump Assassination Attempt

Oct 21, 2024, 03:12 PM

A bipartisan House task force released an interim report detailing significant security failures by the U.S. Secret Service that led to a preventable assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The report describes how inadequate planning, poor communication, and lack of coordination allowed a 20-year-old gunman named Crooks to climb onto the AGR building and fire eight shots at President Trump and rally attendees. The Secret Service did not know Crooks was armed before he opened fire and failed to secure critical perimeters, including the AGR complex. Multiple command posts and unclear lines of communication contributed to the security lapses. The task force labeled the events as 'tragic and shocking,' stating they were 'preventable and should not have happened.' The report calls for a foundational overhaul of the Secret Service, including new leadership, to prevent similar incidents in the future.