Staff Reports
The Secret Service is under the microscope yet again, and this time, it’s not for losing Joe Biden’s ice cream. The agency tasked with protecting our nation’s leaders somehow let former President Donald Trump get shot in the ear during a poorly-executed assassination attempt. This fiasco unfolded in the Second Amendment-loving town of Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The shooter managed to set up shop, unchallenged, on the roof of a building hundreds of feet away from where Trump was standing.
From the agency’s protocols in setting up a perimeter to their reaction time, every aspect of the Secret Service’s performance is now under scrutiny. Talk about an agency in disarray. The Associated Press reported that an agent did spot the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, before he opened fire. But, instead of putting an end to his dastardly plot, the agent backed away down a ladder when Crooks pointed his rifle at him. Crooks, seizing the opportunity, turned around and took his shot at Trump.
Secret Service under cloud of questions after foiled Trump assassination attempt https://t.co/KlmGDCTLo5
— The Voter's Guide: to politics 🇺🇸 (@TheVotersGuide) July 15, 2024
In a stunning show of bipartisanship, President Joe Biden has called for an independent investigation into how this remarkable failure occurred. After chatting with Trump, who managed to retain his hairstyle despite the chaos, Biden announced he wants answers for the American people. A noble gesture, though one wonders if the administration will let this one slip away like Hunter’s laptop.
The Secret Service has been quick to swat down accusations that they denied Trump extra protection. In an attempt at damage control, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi took to social media to assert that Trump’s team never requested additional security and that the agency actually increased protective measures. The FBI echoed this sentiment, stating no additional security was requested or denied.
Congressional Republicans are not letting this one slide. House Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed a thorough investigation into how the shooter got within range of the former president. The gaffe has also attracted the attention of House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who demanded Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testify before Congress to address this lapse.
Meanwhile, Cheatle was in Milwaukee, prepping for the Republican National Convention that begins Monday. With concerns mounting, she’s now tasked with ensuring future security measures are foolproof. Biden has directed the head of the Secret Service to review all RNC security measures to prevent another blunder. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey B. Norman is standing by the plans, though, expressing confidence they’ve got everything locked down.
As the RNC kicks off, the security ensemble insists they are well-prepared, declaring no changes needed despite recent events. Secret Service RNC coordinator Audrey Gibson-Cicchino asserts this event ranks at the highest security level and they’ve been planning it for 18 months. One can only hope this confidence isn’t misplaced, and that this time, they’ll manage to keep the bullets at bay.
