The Secret Service released a report that details how bad planning and poor communication between local police agencies and the Secret Service led to the security lapse that allowed an attempted assassination of ex-President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report found that the local police department responsible for securing the roof where the shooter, Thomas Crooks, positioned himself had never spoken to the Secret Service prior to the incident. Additionally, a lack of coordination between various local police entities and the Secret Service contributed to the security breach. The report also mentioned that the Secret Service’s counter sniper asset team arrived after local law enforcement organizations had already made security plans. In response to the incident, the Secret Service placed some officials on leave.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged the failures on July 13 and emphasized the importance of learning from the incident to prevent similar mission failures in the future. The report highlighted the agency’s high operational tempo as a contributing factor to the security breach, suggesting that they may have been stretched too thin between different security responsibilities. Rowe also mentioned that recommendations to leadership may be forthcoming. Despite the security lapses, Rowe assured that the agency is taking steps to provide the same level of security to presidential candidates as sitting presidents. He also praised an agent who recently fired at a potential assassin on the golf course where Trump was playing, noting that the agent acted in accordance with his training.
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