### Senate Committee Criticizes Secret Service's Handling of Trump Assassination Attempt

A Senate Committee's preliminary report harshly criticizes the Secret Service's handling of security during the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump. The attempt, which occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, resulted in tragedy when a spectator was killed, two others were seriously wounded, and Trump was struck on the ear. This report reveals numerous errors and lapses in security procedures that allowed the attack to unfold.

One notable failure involved an agent who was ill-prepared to use drone equipment. This agent, who had only received an hour of informal training, resorted to calling a toll-free tech support hotline due to a lack of additional unmanned assets, which had been requested but denied beforehand.

The report states, "Multiple foreseeable and preventable planning and operational failures by USSS contributed to [Thomas] Crooks' ability to carry out the assassination attempt of former President Trump on July 13." Identified issues included unclear roles, poor coordination with local law enforcement, ineffective communication, and malfunctioning counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).

Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged the report's findings and emphasized the agency's commitment to improving its procedures. He stated, "The weight of our mission is not lost on us... the U.S. Secret Service cannot fail. Many of the insights gained from the Senate report align with the findings from our mission assurance review and are essential to ensuring that what happened on July 13 never happens again."

Testimonies from agents revealed significant communication breakdowns. For instance, 27 minutes before the shooting, the Secret Service's security room and counter-sniper team were informed of a suspicious person with a range finder near the AGR building, where the shooter later positioned himself. Yet, neither agents on Trump's detail nor the Pittsburgh field office were made aware of this critical information.

Adding to the confusion, the report notes that even when local law enforcement was seen running toward the AGR building with guns drawn, a Secret Service counter sniper failed to alert Trump's protective detail to remove him from the stage. The report elaborates that the counter sniper admitted the thought to notify someone "did not cross [his] mind."

The Senate Committee's findings also showed that, unlike typical security measures for an out-of-office candidate, counter snipers were deployed due to "credible intelligence" of a potential threat. This measure was unusual before the party's nominating convention, which was scheduled to start two days after the shooting.

Local law enforcement expressed concerns about the AGR building's rooftop days before the rally, which remained unsecured. Requests for additional resources, including more drone equipment and counter-assault agents, were also denied without explanation, further hampering security efforts.

Technical difficulties further exacerbated the situation. The agent responsible for drone equipment faced glitches that prevented the drone from flying until after the assailant, Matthew Thomas Crooks, had already flown his own drone near the rally.

Acting Director Ronald Rowe recently admitted communication shortcomings that delayed vital information before the shooting. Secret Service members faced various technical issues with their radios, and the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office lacked a radio altogether, having handed it to the lead advance agent on Trump's detail.

The committee underscored the lack of a clear chain of command, with officials deflecting blame and failing to take responsibility for planning or security failures. The recommendation is for better coordination, clearer leadership, and additional intelligence and resources, including improved communications with local law enforcement.

To prevent future occurrences, the Secret Service has implemented changes to elevate the protective posture for its protectees and bolstered its protective details. Guglielmi assured that Trump is receiving the highest level of protection possible and that the agency is continually evaluating and adjusting its protective measures to ensure safety and security.