A shocking admission from the U.S. Secret Service reveals internal failures that nearly cost a former president his life.
As reported by CNBC, the Secret Service has taken responsibility for the near-fatal shooting of former President Donald Trump at a July campaign rally. The agency cited poor planning and complacency among its agents as primary factors in the security breach.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe held a press conference on Friday to address the incident, which occurred on July 13 near Butler, Pennsylvania. During the event, a gunman named Thomas Crooks opened fire on the stage where Trump was speaking, grazing the former president's ear with a bullet and killing one rally attendee.
Rowe's candid assessment of the agency's performance highlighted several areas where security protocols fell short. He pointed to a lack of clear communication with local law enforcement partners and deficiencies in coordinating between personnel at the site.
The acting director also noted that while some members of the advance team were diligent in their duties, others displayed a level of complacency that led to breaches in security protocols. This lapse in vigilance contributed to the overall failure to prevent the assassination attempt.
Line-of-sight issues at the rally location were apparently known but not adequately addressed beforehand, further compromising the safety of the former president and attendees. Rowe emphasized that these failings would not go unaddressed, stating that employees responsible for the lapses would be held accountable.
The assassination attempt had immediate repercussions within the Secret Service. Former Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position on July 23, just ten days after the incident. Rowe subsequently took over as acting director, inheriting the task of addressing the agency's shortcomings and rebuilding public trust.
During the press conference, Rowe quoted: "As I've said, this was a failure on the part of the United States Secret Service."
This frank admission underscores the gravity of the situation and the agency's commitment to transparency in the wake of the near-tragedy.
The Secret Service is now grappling with what Rowe describes as an "evolving" threat level. This assessment comes in light of another apparent assassination attempt against Trump, which occurred on September 17 at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In that incident, a Secret Service agent fired upon spotting what appeared to be a rifle protruding from nearby trees. The suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, was later arrested and charged with federal gun crimes.
Rowe emphasized the need for a "paradigm shift" in the agency's operations to better combat these emerging threats. This call for change suggests that the Secret Service is actively working to adapt its strategies and protocols to prevent future security breaches.
The Secret Service has taken full responsibility for the near-assassination of former President Donald Trump at a July campaign rally. Acting Director Ronald Rowe cited poor planning, communication gaps, and agent complacency as key factors in the security failure. The agency is now calling for a paradigm shift in its operations to address evolving threats and prevent future incidents.
