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(NewsNation) — As the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump continues, many questions remain as federal law enforcement and lawmakers examine the security failures at the Pennsylvania rally this month.
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned under pressure, admitting her agency’s failure to protect the former president. Trump has blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for inadequate protection.
NewsNation will air a special report on the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin will anchor from Butler, Pennsylvania, near the rally site, as NewsNation revisits the crisis and the major unanswered questions about what went wrong. Here’s how you can watch.
Before resigning, Kimberly Cheatle told the House Oversight Committee that the Secret Service’s failures were her responsibility and that what should have been done differently on July 13 is “never far from my thoughts.”
As the FBI and others work to determine the security breakdowns at the rally, public officials continue to push for more details about the incident and the motives of the suspected shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks.’
Where did the security break down?
While taking responsibility for the Secret Service’s failures, Kimberly Cheatle sidestepped several key questions from the congressional committee.
Among those inquiries were questions about whether the Secret Service had secured the building where Crooks was positioned during the shooting.
“I’m not going to get into specifics of the day,” Cheatle told lawmakers. “There was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities.”
Cheatle testified that the building’s sloped roof prevented the Secret Service from sending an agent to the site, which was assigned to the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit.
In an interview with ABC News, Cheatle said the sloped roof posed a “safety factor” issue, leading to the decision to secure the building from the inside. She called the rally shooting “unacceptable.”
However, Pennsylvania State Police Commander Christopher Paris testified that the security breakdown at the rally resulted from a lack of communication between the Secret Service and state and local law enforcement agencies assisting with security measures.
Other officials claimed that communications between the Secret Service and other supporting agencies had been limited.
Paris testified that an initial planning meeting occurred on July 8, followed by a final walk-through three days later. During the walk-through, Beaver County law enforcement officers identified the AGR Industries, Inc. building as a potential risk, and Secret Service officials assured them it would be secured.
However, after Crooks was spotted—first by rally attendees and later by local officers—monitoring him broke down before shots were fired at Trump.
Paris said Beaver County officers left their post to search for Crooks. A local officer was hoisted to gain access to the roof when Crooks pointed his assault rifle at the officer, who then dropped to the ground.
But Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger disputed Paris’ assertion that officers left their assigned area to find Crooks. “He’s wrong about that,” Goldinger told NewsNation’s Brian Entin. “Maybe that’s what he was told and believed happened, but that’s not what happened. They did not leave—they just couldn’t see where he was from their position.”
Goldinger said Butler County officers could not see Crooks when he was on the roof.
Paris testified that two or three minutes after the officer attempted to access the roof, several shots were fired, one of which pierced Trump’s ear. The shooting left one person dead and another wounded.
Is it the Secret Service’s fault or local law enforcement?
Because the event involved the former U.S. president, the Secret Service was the lead agency handling security. The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Beaver County Sheriff’s Department, and other local agencies provided support.
Paris testified that state police troopers were assigned a support role, including assistance with Trump’s motorcade and two security posts within the secured perimeter. Officers from the Beaver County ESU were assigned to the building from where Crooks took the shots.
When questioned about the lack of federal agents assigned to the sloped roof building where Crooks was positioned, Patrick Yoes, the national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, testified that security assignments came from Cheatle’s agency.
“I would say that again the primary responsibility of making these calls, making these decisions, and making the operation plans is going to be the Secret Service,” Yoes told lawmakers.
Bodycam footage released this week shows confusion among investigators immediately after the attempt on Trump’s life. The footage, posted by Sen. Chuck Grassley, shows officers trying to figure out what happened after Crooks was shot and killed by a sniper.
What was Thomas Matthew Crooks’ motive?
FBI Director Christopher Wray informed lawmakers Wednesday that the agency is still working to determine Crooks’ motive in the attempted assassination of Trump.
“We’re hoping to learn more,” Wray stated during a hearing. “It’s fair to say we do not yet have a clear picture of his motive.”
However, on the day Crooks registered for the Butler rally on July 6, he conducted a Google search on his computer about how far Lee Harvey Oswald was from President John F. Kennedy when Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
That online search, Wray said, provides insight into Crooks’ mindset leading up to the assassination attempt. Wray also testified that Crooks’ online searches increasingly focused on Trump and the Butler rally.
Wray revealed that Crooks flew a drone about 200 yards from the stage where Trump was set to speak more than two hours before the shooting.
Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing home employee who graduated from community college last spring, had searched online for information about Trump and Biden and had photos of both men on his phone, lawmakers told the Washington Post. The newspaper also reported that Crooks’ phone contained photos of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and a member of the British royal family. Wray testified that Crooks was using an encrypted messaging app on his phone.
An FBI search of Crooks’ phone revealed online searches about a shooting in which teenage gunman Ethan Crumbley killed four high school students in Michigan, as well as information on major depressive disorder, the Butler rally, and the Democratic National Convention.
NBC News reported that Crooks also searched for information on explosive materials, chemical compounds, improvised explosive devices, and the Department of Homeland Security in the months leading up to the rally. The report indicated that more than 14,000 links and photos were found on Crooks’ phone, including one photo of the rally taken before Trump took the stage.
Did the shooter have other plans?
Wray testified that Crooks visited the Butler rally site the day after registering and returned three times on the event day.
According to CBS News, Crooks was seen by attendees carrying a range finder and a duffel bag 60 minutes before the shooting. Media reports stated that Crooks had two cell phones, one of which was at his house. FBI agents also found three explosive devices: two in his car and one at his home, NBC News reported.
Crooks spent about 70 minutes at the rally site early in the morning on the day of the rally and returned shortly after 5 p.m., just an hour before the shooting.
CBS News reported that Crooks’ father called police before the rally, expressing concern about his son and his whereabouts. The family is cooperating with the investigation.
Despite this, investigators have not determined Crooks’ motive or if he had a bigger plan beyond targeting Trump at the Butler rally.
Why didn’t the Secret Service or law enforcement act sooner?
Wray testified that the FBI is working to establish a timeline of events surrounding the attempt on Trump’s life.
Crooks was shot and killed by a sniper shortly after firing at Trump as Secret Service agents rushed to protect the former president and move him to a private vehicle.
However, it remains unclear why more attention wasn’t given to Crooks’ presence on the roof in the 26 minutes after a photo of him on the rooftop was sent to a local officer inside the Secret Service Command Center.
Multiple media reports show attendees who spotted Crooks alerted police officers about his presence. However, CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that attendees were unaware Crooks had a gun.
Wray testified that Crooks used a gun with a collapsible stock, which made it easier to conceal. Because of this, attendees and officers who saw Crooks would not have noticed the weapon.
The local prosecutor explained that officers assigned to the AGR building would have needed to lean out to get a clear view of Crooks, giving him time to position himself and fire the shots at Trump.
How could Secret Service protection measures change?
Since the shooting, the Secret Service has advised the Trump campaign to stop holding large outdoor rallies like the one in Butler. NewsNation reported that future campaign events will be held indoors or at venues with more controlled entrances, with no outdoor events planned in the near future.
In an interview with NewsMax, Trump stated that his campaign had requested more agents to “beef up” security at his rallies but was “consistently denied” by the Secret Service.
NewsNation did not immediately receive a response to a request for comment from a Secret Service spokesperson about the agency’s security plans for future presidential events.
Meanwhile, President Biden has directed the Secret Service to provide protection for independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., following the attempt on Trump’s life. Kennedy’s uncle, John F. Kennedy, and his father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, were both assassinated.
The Associated Press reported last October that a man was arrested for trespassing at Kennedy’s Los Angeles home, and another armed man, who was said to be impersonating a federal agent, was arrested outside a campaign event.
Frequently Asked Question
What happened at the Butler rally involving former President Donald Trump?
An assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump during a rally in Butler. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired shots at Trump but was later shot and killed by a sniper.
Why did the Secret Service resignations and criticisms occur following the Butler rally?
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, acknowledging failures in protecting Trump. Criticism arose due to lapses in security, such as not securing the building from where Crooks shot and communication breakdowns with local law enforcement.
What did the FBI discover about Crooks’ actions leading up to the shooting?
Crooks visited the rally site multiple times before the event, carried a range finder and duffel bag, and used a collapsible gun that was concealed from view. He also conducted online searches about Trump, Biden, and previous shootings.
What are the implications for future Trump campaign events?
The Secret Service has recommended that future Trump campaign events be held indoors or at venues with controlled entrances to prevent similar security breaches.
How did Crooks’ presence and weapon remain unnoticed?
Crooks used a collapsible gun that was easier to conceal. Attendees and officers who saw him did not realize he was armed. The local prosecutor indicated that officers would have needed to lean out to see Crooks clearly.
What actions has President Biden taken in response to the shooting?
President Biden has directed the Secret Service to provide protection for independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., following the attempt on Trump’s life.
Have there been any other security incidents involving Robert Kennedy Jr.?
Yes, there were incidents involving security breaches at Kennedy’s home in Los Angeles and an armed man impersonating a federal agent outside a campaign event.
Conclusion
The recent events surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump have highlighted significant lapses in security and communication. The Secret Service has been scrutinized for handling the situation, including the decision not to assign federal agents to crucial vantage points and the failure to respond adequately to warnings from attendees and local law enforcement. Moving forward, the Secret Service has advised the Trump campaign to shift from large outdoor rallies to more controlled indoor events to enhance safety.
FBI investigations are ongoing, focusing on understanding Crooks’ motives and actions leading up to the attack. Meanwhile, President Biden has ensured increased protection for Robert Kennedy Jr., reflecting concerns for the safety of all presidential candidates. The incident underscores the critical need for robust security measures and effective communication among all agencies involved in protecting public figures.