Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona visited Butler, Pennsylvania, on Monday to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Trump. Crane, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, raised concerns about the security lapses that allowed the assailant to take a shot at the former president.

Crane, a former Navy SEAL sniper, filmed himself on the rooftop where Thomas Crooks fired shots at Trump during a rally on July 13. Contradicting U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's claim that the "sloped roof" impeded personnel placement, Crane highlighted that the rooftop was easily accessible and not steep at all.

The 20-year-old assailant, Crooks, climbed onto the rooftop approximately 150 yards away from where Trump was speaking. He took a sniper's position and had a direct line of sight to the former president. Crooks was eventually killed by Secret Service countersnipers, but not before he managed to fire several shots at Trump, injuring him and causing fatalities and injuries among bystanders.

The Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny for this glaring security failure. Crane, drawing from his experience as a former Navy SEAL sniper, identified missed opportunities for the Secret Service to deploy countersnipers, including a nearby water tower that could have been utilized for enhanced security.

Furthermore, Crane highlighted the presence of Secret Service agents stationed on the second floor of an adjacent building, questioning why they were unable to swiftly neutralize the threat.

During the investigation, Crane toured the rally site, pointing out the location of Trump's stage and raising multiple questions regarding the overall security arrangements in Butler. He emphasized the need for oversight and a comprehensive review to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.

Recent developments were preceded by the release of Sen. Ron Johnson's official 13-page preliminary findings from his office's investigation into the assassination attempt. The preliminary findings revealed that the Secret Service failed to attend a security briefing given to local SWAT and sniper teams on the morning of July 13. Additionally, local law enforcement reported communication silos and lack of direct radio contact with the Secret Service. It was also discovered that the Secret Service was aware of Crooks before the shooting, as local law enforcement had notified command and received confirmation of awareness. Following the incident, the Secret Service was seen working with local law enforcement on the roof of the American Glass Research building.

As the investigation progresses, questions surrounding the Secret Service's handling of the situation continue to mount. The involvement of various law enforcement agencies and the sharing of critical information will be closely examined to address the security deficiencies that allowed the attempted assassination to occur.

The full report on the investigation is eagerly awaited, as lawmakers strive to identify the failures and implement necessary protocols to prevent similar incidents from happening again.