Wed Sep 25 09:00:19 UTC 2024: ## Secret Service Failures Led to Near-Fatal Assassination Attempt on Trump: Senate Report

**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – A scathing interim Senate report released Wednesday has revealed multiple failures by the U.S. Secret Service during a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that directly contributed to a near-fatal assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

The 94-page report, a result of a joint investigation by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, identified a litany of problems including a lack of a clear chain of command, poor coordination with local law enforcement, inadequate resources and equipment, and a failure to properly secure the event and protect Trump.

“Every single one of these actions is directly related to a failure in the U.S. Secret Service’s planning, communications, intelligence sharing and law enforcement coordination efforts,” said Committee Chairman Gary Peters. “Every single one of those failures was preventable, and the consequences of those failures were dire.”

The report highlights several specific failures, including:

* **Radio communication breakdowns:** Numerous Secret Service agents reported communication problems with their radios, including the special agent in charge who had to give away his radio, leaving him without communication for the entire day.
* **Drone malfunctions:** The Secret Service’s drone units experienced technical problems, requiring the operator to call a helpline for support. The operator reportedly had only three months of experience with the equipment.
* **Intelligence failures:** Several Secret Service personnel were notified about a suspicious individual with a rangefinder 27 minutes before the shooting but claimed they did not receive the information. Additionally, an alert about an individual on the roof of a building armed with a weapon was sent by local law enforcement two minutes before the shooting but was not relayed to key Secret Service personnel.
* **Failure to react to obvious threats:** The report states that several individuals, including Secret Service agents and local law enforcement, perceived the gunman as suspicious but failed to take action, allowing him to continue his assault.

The report concludes that the Secret Service’s shortcomings significantly contributed to the near-tragic event.

“Leaving a roof unattended, just you know, barely over 100 yards from the podium with a direct line of sight was an unacceptable and inexcusable error,” said Senator Rand Paul, a ranking member on the committee. “Everybody thought this guy was suspicious and nobody thought to stop the proceeding and remove the former president from the stage.”

In response to the report, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged the failures, stating that “the weight of our mission is not lost on us and in this hyperdynamic threat environment, the U.S. Secret Service cannot fail.” He confirmed that the agency is taking steps to implement the committee’s recommendations.

The Senate report is expected to trigger further investigations and calls for increased accountability within the Secret Service.

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