Staff Reports
The Secret Service is an agency in the hot seat, facing harsh scrutiny after the near-assassination of former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident on July 13 revealed an alarming security lapse that made Americans question how their beloved leader was exposed. The Federalists raised concerns over potential resource shortages despite federal authorities insisting no such requests were denied. Interestingly, the ordeal required substantial local law enforcement presence, with federal agents seemingly dropping the ball.
The shooter, a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks, brazenly scaled a rooftop overlooking the rally venue and took aim with a rifle. He managed to get within 150 yards of Trump, and his shot missed the former president’s head by mere millimetres. The rooftop quickly became the focal point of this precarious event, especially after reports surfaced that the Secret Service had flagged the area as a major vulnerability days prior. Knowing the fox was lurking, it was as if someone had left the gate wide open at the hen house.
. @CoryMillsFL has coordinated protective details for then VP Biden, Condoleezza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush,
He tells @kasie that the assassination attempt on Trump amounted to "a massive security breach." pic.twitter.com/BFRgouVMRj
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) July 14, 2024
It’s a relief that Trump emerged unscathed and is currently gearing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ahead of the Republican National Convention. The absence of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who was conveniently in Aspen, Colorado, during the incident, adds another layer of incompetence to the situation. Shockingly, no Secret Service representative attended the law enforcement briefing held at 11:45 PM on the night of the attack, leaving many to wonder who exactly was minding the store.
The rooftop where a gunman shot at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally was identified by the U.S. Secret Service as a potential vulnerability in the days before the event, sources familiar with the agency’s operations told NBC News. NBC News' Tom Winter reports. pic.twitter.com/OzTemxqORg
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 15, 2024
In response to this egregious oversight, House Republicans are not taking this lightly. They’ve called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack, ensuring that those responsible for the security blunder are held accountable. The GOP is determined to understand why former President Trump, a man who draws crowds and inspires unyielding loyalty, was left vulnerable to such danger.
Adding fuel to the fire, new video footage has emerged showing rally-goers identifying Crooks’ rooftop position well before he fired the shot. It makes one wonder: if everyday citizens could spot the threat, what excuse do the trained professionals have? The entire episode screams of a catastrophic failure by the Secret Service, raising serious questions about their capability to protect high-profile figures in volatile times. Conservatives nationwide are demanding answers and, more importantly, swift actions to ensure such a debacle never happens again.
