A newly released report highlights significant security failures by the Secret Service during a July campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot and wounded. The five-page summary outlines critical missteps that allowed a gunman to open fire from an unsecured rooftop, raising serious questions about the agency’s preparedness and coordination with local law enforcement.
The report identifies numerous deficiencies leading up to the July 13 shooting by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper after firing eight rounds in Trump’s direction. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. acknowledged the agency’s shortcomings, stating, “This was a failure on the part of the United States Secret Service. It’s important that we hold ourselves to account for the failures of July 13th and that we use the lessons learned to make sure that we do not have another failure like this again.”
Key issues cited in the report include a lack of clear communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement, which led to critical information being missed. For example, some local officers were unaware of two communications centers set up on the rally grounds, resulting in a failure to relay essential information through the proper channels.
“Line-of-sight issues were acknowledged, but not properly mitigated,” Rowe stated. He emphasized that while some members of the advanced team worked diligently, others exhibited “complacency” that undermined security protocols. This complacency allowed vulnerabilities to remain unaddressed, despite prior warnings about potential hazards from the rooftop location.
#BREAKING – Acting Secret Service Director on the agency's failures on the first Trump assassination attempt:
“[T]he Secret Service has the main responsibility of building the site plan. We cannot abdicate, or defer are responsibilities to others. Advanced team personnel have… pic.twitter.com/gTytZe1RhL
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 20, 2024
The report also reveals an overreliance on cell phones for communication, which fragmented vital information during the critical moments leading up to the shooting. “The failure of personnel to broadcast via radio the description of the assailant… inhibited the collective awareness of all Secret Service personnel,” the report noted, further complicating the response to the imminent threat.
The absence of law enforcement on the roof from which Crooks fired raises further concerns. A local tactical team was stationed nearby but failed to communicate effectively with the Secret Service before the event. The report indicates that no discussions took place regarding positioning a team on the rooftop, even though local snipers were open to the idea.
As the investigation continues, the report does not specify individuals who may be held accountable, nor does it indicate whether any disciplinary actions have been taken. However, reports indicate that at least five Secret Service agents have been placed on modified duty in the aftermath of the incident, and former director Kimberly Cheatle resigned shortly thereafter, taking full responsibility for the security lapses.
