Senator Josh Hawley has released a report containing new whistleblower allegations that raise serious questions about the Secret Service's handling of the first assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
According to Fox News, the Missouri Republican's findings are "highly damaging to the credibility" of the agency responsible for protecting current and former presidents.
The report, released on September 16, 2024, details multiple security failures surrounding the July 13 assassination attempt at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Hawley's investigation, which included interviews with whistleblowers and the establishment of a tip line, uncovered what he describes as "a compounding pattern of negligence, sloppiness, and gross incompetence" within the Secret Service.
One of the most alarming revelations from the whistleblowers is that the Secret Service's Counter Surveillance Division, typically responsible for threat assessments of event sites, did not perform its usual evaluation of the Butler location. Furthermore, the division was reportedly absent on the day of the rally.
The report also claims that Secret Service personnel declined multiple offers from local law enforcement to deploy drone technology. This decision appears particularly concerning given that the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, allegedly used a drone to survey the rally site hours before the attempt.
Another whistleblower allegation suggests that the Office of Protective Operations-Manpower instructed agents in charge of rally security not to request additional resources, stating that such requests would be denied.
Hawley's report highlights several issues related to personnel and training that may have contributed to the security breakdown. According to whistleblowers, law enforcement personnel allegedly abandoned the rooftop where Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump "because of hot weather."
The agent responsible for the site's security, including "line-of-site concerns," was reportedly "known to be incompetent." This incompetence allegedly led to the placement of items like flags around the stage and catwalk, which impaired visibility.
The report also reveals that supplemental Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel were used to fill shortages of Secret Service agents at the rally. Some of these agents were allegedly pulled from child exploitation cases, and their training reportedly consisted of only a "poor-quality, two-hour webinar."
In the wake of the assassination attempt, several high-ranking officials within the Secret Service have faced consequences. Kimberly Cheatle, who was the director of the Secret Service at the time of the rally, resigned amid mounting pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The agency's assistant director, Michael Plati, is also retiring.
At least five Secret Service agents have been placed on leave since the July incident. These actions reflect the severity of the security failure and the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable.
Hawley stated in his report:
On July 13, 2024, former President Donald J. Trump was nearly killed by an assassin's bullet while hosting a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Secret Service failed to prevent it. It was the most stunning breakdown in presidential security since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
Senator Hawley's report on the first Trump assassination attempt reveals significant security failures within the Secret Service. Whistleblower allegations point to inadequate threat assessments, declined technological assistance, and questionable personnel decisions. The report has led to high-level resignations and ongoing investigations. These revelations come amid a second assassination attempt on Trump, highlighting the continued importance of robust security measures for current and former presidents.
