Lawmakers Question Secret Service Failures in Trump Case

In a Senate hearing, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate faced intense scrutiny regarding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Senator Rick Scott criticized the agencies for their lack of timely updates, emphasizing the public's demand for information and comparing it to communication during previous tragedies. Rowe acknowledged significant security failures that nearly allowed an assassin to kill Trump, revealing he had identified gaps in their security measures since his recent appointment. The FBI disclosed that the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had researched mass shootings before his attack, raising questions about the agencies' preparedness. Former FBI agent Bobby Chacon highlighted a shocking lack of urgency among law enforcement before the shooting, noting that warnings about Crooks went unheeded. Investigators confirmed that Crooks fired eight shots at Trump, resulting in a death and injuries among rally attendees before he was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.