House Task Force Blasts Secret Service for Failures in Trump Assassination Attempt at Butler Rally

October 22, 2024
House Task Force Blasts Secret Service for Failures in Trump Assassination Attempt at Butler Rally
  • The shooting incident resulted in Trump being injured, one rallygoer killed, and two others wounded.

  • The bipartisan task force concluded that the events of July 13 were preventable and should not have occurred.

  • The findings were based on extensive interviews, thousands of documents, and testimony from a public hearing held in September.

  • The final report is expected to be presented in December as part of ongoing investigations into the attack on Trump.

  • A House task force has released an interim report investigating the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

  • The report criticized the Secret Service for failing to adequately plan and coordinate with local law enforcement prior to the rally.

  • It highlighted a clear lack of planning and coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, which contributed to the security failures.

  • The absence of a centralized command post and fragmented communication allowed the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to evade capture.

  • Evidence indicated that law enforcement had multiple opportunities to intervene with Crooks before he fired shots, but communication breakdowns hindered their response.

  • Crucial information about Crooks did not reach Trump's Secret Service detail before the shots were fired, despite the urgency of the situation.

  • While the report does not assign individual accountability, it notes that five Secret Service agents were placed on modified duty following the incident.

  • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the incident, taking full responsibility for the security lapse.

Summary based on 8 sources


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