US Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee, has launched a damning last report detailing widespread failures by america Secret Service (USSS) main as much as the tried assassination of President Donald Trump throughout a marketing campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
The report, made public precisely one yr after the taking pictures, alleges systemic negligence, inner miscommunication, and poor coordination between the USSS and native legislation enforcement. The assault, which left Trump injured and firefighter Corey Comperatore lifeless, occurred after a gunman climbed onto the roof of a close-by constructing and opened fireplace.
“This was a scandal, not only a tragedy,” Says Paul
“This was not a single lapse in judgment,” Sen. Paul stated in a press release. “It was a whole breakdown of safety at each stage—fueled by bureaucratic indifference, an absence of clear protocols, and a stunning refusal to behave on direct threats.”
Paul slammed the company for failing to behave on credible intelligence and denying requests for elevated sources within the days main as much as the rally. He additionally criticised the company’s lack of accountability, noting that nobody has been fired over the incident.
“Regardless of these failures, nobody has been fired. And we solely know what little self-discipline was handed out as a result of I issued a subpoena. That’s unacceptable,” Paul added.
Key findings from the report
The Committee’s year-long investigation included 17 transcribed interviews with USSS personnel and a evaluate of greater than 75,000 pages of paperwork from federal, state, and native companies. The ultimate report builds upon a preliminary report issued in September 2024 and consists of new proof.
Among the many most critical findings:
Ignored Intelligence: A report of a suspicious particular person with a rangefinder on a close-by rooftop was obtained 25 minutes earlier than pictures had been fired, but no motion was taken.
Denied useful resource requests: The USSS rejected a number of inner requests for extra workers, tools, and counter-sniper belongings forward of the rally.
False testimony: Then-USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle falsely advised Congress that no requests for extra sources had been denied.
Restricted accountability: Solely six brokers obtained formal self-discipline, and nobody has been dismissed. In two instances, preliminary disciplinary actions had been decreased.
Communication failures: Vital risk intelligence was not handed to the safety element defending Trump, nor had been native legislation enforcement correctly built-in into the advance safety course of.
Failure to deploy counter-snipers: Regardless of intelligence briefings and coverage authorizations, counter-sniper groups weren’t current at both the Butler rally or an earlier rally in Doral, Florida.
The report strongly recommends sweeping reforms to deal with what it calls a “stunning refusal” to take preemptive safety actions. Paul urged Congress and the subsequent administration to overtake protocols for rally safety, intelligence sharing, and field-level communication.
“We should maintain people accountable and guarantee reforms are absolutely carried out so this by no means occurs once more,” he stated.
On July 13, 2024, a gunman armed with a rifle opened fireplace from the rooftop of the American Glass Analysis constructing close to the Butler Farm Present venue, putting 4 individuals and killing one. Then former President Trump was hit within the ear however survived. The shooter was killed by legislation enforcement on the scene.
The assault marked the primary tried assassination of a US presidential candidate in over 4 a long time and raised instant questions on safety breakdowns.
