Local Pennsylvania police officers were not allowed into a Secret Service command center at former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, according to Republican Tennessee Rep. Mark Green. This lack of communication between local and federal law enforcement is one of the many issues being investigated in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Trump by Thomas Crooks. The House Committee on Homeland Security, along with bipartisan members, toured the crime scene to gather more information about the events leading up to the shooting. Efforts are also being made to understand how radios were used by law enforcement on the day of the rally.
A command center is typically where representatives of all law enforcement agencies involved in securing an event convene to streamline communication. The highest-ranking members of specific agencies are usually present to make decisions, with the Secret Service boss having the final say. During Trump’s rally in Butler, the command center was set up under a tent. The Secret Service has expressed a commitment to fully cooperate with investigations into the incident to ensure it does not happen again. Local law enforcement agencies involved have either not responded to inquiries or have declined to comment due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Members of Congress who toured the rally site expressed concerns about the lack of security measures in place during the event. Some lawmakers were able to climb onto the roof where Crooks had shot from without any equipment, raising questions about law enforcement’s preparedness and response. Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Kelly questioned why law enforcement allowed Trump to take the stage knowing there was a suspicious person in the area. The shooting at the rally left one person dead and two others critically wounded, prompting calls for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Green, are calling for Cheatle to resign following the shooting incident. Cheatle faced questions from the House Oversight Committee regarding the decisions made by law enforcement on the ground during the rally. The motivation behind Crooks’ attempted assassination of Trump is still being investigated by federal law enforcement. The events of July 13 have sparked concerns about the coordination and communication between local and federal law enforcement agencies during high-profile events.
The tragic events that unfolded at former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania have raised serious questions about security protocols and communication between law enforcement agencies. The lack of access to the Secret Service command center by local police officers, along with reports of a suspicious individual on the premises prior to the shooting, have highlighted areas of concern that need to be addressed. Efforts are being made to investigate the decisions made by law enforcement on the ground and to understand the motivations behind the attempted assassination. The aftermath of the rally has underscored the importance of coordination and preparedness in ensuring the safety of public figures and attendees at such events.
