Senate Report Details Secret Service Failures in Trump Assassination Attempt

A bipartisan Senate committee report released on the anniversary of the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sharply criticizes the Secret Service for a "cascade of preventable failures." The report highlights critical communication breakdowns within the Secret Service and between federal and local law enforcement, which allowed the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, to evade detection for nearly 45 minutes before firing. It also points to organizational lapses such as obstructed sniper views and unfulfilled requests for additional security resources, contributing to the failure to prevent the attack that left Trump grazed by a bullet, one rally attendee dead, and two others injured. Despite internal discipline, the committee calls for stronger disciplinary actions, noting that no agents have been fired, and condemns the Secret Service's reliance on personal cell phones over radios and inadequate rooftop security plans. The committee's investigation, led by Sen. Rand Paul, included interviews with Secret Service staff and extensive document reviews, underscoring the agency's mishandling and denial of extra protection for Trump on election day. Senate members from both parties emphasize that the attack was foreseeable and preventable, demanding accountability to ensure such security failures do not recur.