Investigation Concludes First Assassination Attempt on Trump was 'Preventable'

Investigation Findings Released

The House task force investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 has concluded that the incident was preventable. The task force released new testimonies from local law enforcement officials who detailed communication and operational failures at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report was released on Monday and highlighted a lack of planning and coordination between the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement during the rally.

Secret Service Failures

The report noted that the Secret Service did not provide clear guidance to state and local agencies about managing areas outside the secure event perimeter. There was also no joint meeting on the day of the rally between the Secret Service and all assisting state and local law enforcement agencies. The House task force report largely aligns with findings from the Senate Homeland Security panel report and an internal Secret Service report, both released in September.

Details of the Assassination Attempt

The report also included new interviews with local law enforcement officials in Butler County, detailing how the Secret Service failed to act on July 13. Unnamed officials provided more information on how the gunman was first spotted by law enforcement, and how no action was taken until he began shooting at the rally. The gunman shot Trump’s right ear and killed a rally-goer, severely injuring two others.

Testimonies from Law Enforcement

One emergency services official told the panel that he sent a text message to his colleague about the shooter being seen with a rangefinder at around 5:17 p.m. However, the colleague did not see the message until around 5:40 p.m. The report also included testimony from the officer who attempted to climb the building where the gunman was positioned before he opened fire. The officer was forced to retreat when the shooter pointed his weapon at him.

Criticism of Security Measures

Local and state law enforcement officials who spoke to the House panel were largely critical of the lack of a unified command and communications post to oversee security at the Trump event. They also pointed out that there was no unified briefing between federal and local partners, leading to gaps in awareness among state and local law enforcement partners about who was stationed where, spheres of responsibility, and expectations regarding communications during the day.

Secret Service Response

The Secret Service has not commented on the House panel’s report. The acting director of the Secret Service admitted in August that the agency had failed in its mission to protect Trump during the rally, did not properly secure the rally site, and that several agency staff would face punishment over the incident.

Second Assassination Attempt

Two months later, federal law enforcement officials reported a second assassination attempt on Trump at his Florida golf course while he was golfing. An agent who was protecting Trump saw the barrel of a rifle sticking out of a perimeter fence on Sept. 15, engaged with the suspect, and opened fire, causing the suspect to flee. Ryan Wesley Routh was later arrested and charged with multiple felony counts in connection to the incident and has pleaded not guilty.

Bottom Line

The investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has revealed significant failures in communication and coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement. These findings raise important questions about the effectiveness of security measures for high-profile individuals. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.