Missouri Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley released a report Monday detailing the failures of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) that contributed to the nearly successful July 13 assassination attempt on former Republican President Donald Trump.
The failures detailed in the report represent “the most stunning breakdown in presidential security since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,” according to Hawley’s office.
[RELATED: Trump Targeted in Second Assassination Attempt at Florida Golf Club…]
In an X post, Hawley said the report detailed “multiple failures of Secret Service & [Department of Homeland Security] – including new allegations & numerous unanswered questions due to USSS stonewalling.”
Hawley’s office released the report less than 24 hours after a suspected gunman was arrested in Florida for what the FBI is investigating as the second assassination attempt targeting Trump in less than 65 days.
The report cites whistleblower testimony detailing negligence and inadequate security measures. Key revelations include the Secret Service’s failure to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the rally site and declining offers from local law enforcement to use drone surveillance hours before the attack, some of which was already publicly known.
Whistleblower accounts claim that the Secret Service’s Counter Surveillance Division (CSD), responsible for pre-event threat assessments, was absent from the rally site.
“Had CSD personnel been present at the rally, the gunman would have been handcuffed in the parking lot,” one whistleblower alleged.
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Additionally, agents on the ground were told not to request extra security resources because they would be denied, a claim that has previously been made by various media outlets.
“Secret Service personnel declined multiple offers from a local law enforcement partner to deploy drone technology,” an action that could have potentially identified the would-be assassin, Thomas M. Crooks, who allegedly used his own drone to survey the area hours before the attack.
The report further asserts that law enforcement abandoned key positions, including the rooftop of the American Glass Research Building 6, due to hot weather. This location was later identified as the point from which Crooks fired his weapon. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe was pressed on the matter during a Senate hearing but reportedly stated he did “not know that to be a fact” while adding that investigations are ongoing.
Hawley’s report also highlights concerns over the competence of the agents assigned to the rally. The lead site agent responsible for security at the event is described as “incompetent,” and agents were reportedly assigned with inadequate training, according to the report.
Some Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents were pulled from child exploitation cases to assist, receiving only a “poor-quality, two-hour webinar” as preparation.
In the report, Hawley alleges that the Secret Service retaliated against agents who raised concerns about security practices at Trump events, stating that those who expressed alarm over security lapses faced disciplinary action.
“The American people still know far too little about why this happened. The Secret Service, FBI, and DHS have not been forthcoming,” Hawley said.
IHawley urged Congress and the President to implement aggressive oversight action to reform the agencies responsible for the former president’s protection.
“Left alone, these agencies will not reform themselves. They will continue to stonewall and obfuscate,” Hawley said.
I smell a rat. They’re perfectly happy to have people keep taking pot shots at Trump. If he’s killed, they’ll have plausible deniability. I just hope the Republican Party has a plan in place if Trump is killed. I put nothing past the left.
Gee, I didn’t see Republican outrage over the 11 attempts made on President Obama. I wonder why?