A report released Friday by the Secret Service details the communication breakdowns and other failings that led to the shooting of former President Donald Trump during a July campaign rally. The report highlights missed opportunities to stop the gunman who opened fire from an unsecured roof in Butler, Pennsylvania. Acting director Ronald Rowe Jr. acknowledged the agency’s failure and emphasized the importance of learning from the mistakes to prevent future incidents. The report points to various deficiencies in communication and security protocols that allowed the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to fire eight rounds at Trump before being killed by a counter-sniper.
The report outlines a series of communication deficiencies that occurred before the shooting, including the failure to address line-of-sight vulnerabilities and the complacency among some agents. Local law enforcement was also unaware of the existence of two communications centers on the rally grounds, leading to a lack of coordination and vital information not being transmitted through the Secret Service’s own network. The report highlights the importance of proper communication and coordination between agencies to ensure the safety of public officials like Trump. Additionally, the report raises questions about the lack of law enforcement stationed on the roof where the gunman climbed onto before opening fire.
The report also questions the effectiveness of the tactical team stationed on the second floor of the building from which the gunman fired. Despite concerns raised by multiple law enforcement entities, there was no follow-up discussion about changing the team’s position or putting a team on the roof as a security measure. The lack of coordination between local law enforcement and the Secret Service before the rally raised concerns about the overall security measures in place to protect Trump. The report does not identify specific individuals to blame for the failures, but it does mention that at least five Secret Service agents have been placed on modified duty since the shooting.
The Secret Service’s investigation into the July shooting is part of numerous inquiries, including those by Congress and the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general office. The agency is also facing fresh scrutiny following the arrest of a man who allegedly stalked Trump at a Florida golf course. Acting director Rowe emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in how the Secret Service protects public officials, pointing to the incidents involving Trump as examples of where improvements are needed. Despite the challenges highlighted in the report, Rowe assured that Trump is receiving the highest levels of protection and that the agency’s response in Florida was an example of their procedures working as they should.
