Unexpected Actions Lead to Secret Service Shakeup After Major Incident

The Secret Service suspends five agents following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

At a Glance

At least five Secret Service agents placed on leave after Trump assassination attempt.
Attempt took place at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The gunman, Thomas Crooks, killed one person and injured others before being neutralized.
Investigation and reassessment of current security protocols ongoing.

Agents Suspended Following Attempted Assassination

At least five U.S. Secret Service agents, including the head of the Pittsburgh field office, have been placed on administrative leave following an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This extraordinary measure underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need to review and improve security protocols for high-profile individuals.

The agents placed on leave include one member of Trump’s personal protective team and four members from the Pittsburgh Field Office. The move comes as an immediate response to the severity of the breach that occurred on July 13 when Trump was grazed by a bullet. The incident has spurred a critical reassessment of current protective measures.

The assassination attempt resulted in the unfortunate loss of life, with Corey Comperatore, a Pennsylvania father and firefighter, being shot and killed. Additionally, two other individuals were injured during the rally before the gunman, Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

Internal and External Investigations Underway

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi announced an ongoing “mission assurance review” to examine the processes, procedures, and factors that contributed to this operational failure. Although Guglielmi declined to confirm that the agents were placed on leave, he did emphasize the importance of holding personnel to high professional standards.

“The U.S. Secret Service’s mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure,” Anthony Guglielmi, the USSS chief of communications, said in a statement.

The FBI is also taking the lead in the investigation into the shooting, while Congress has launched its own inquiry into the incident and the Secret Service’s handling of the rally. A House task force along with senators are demanding extensive records from the law enforcement agencies involved to determine where every accountable gap lies.

A big thank you to all our security partners for their outstanding collaboration and dedication to ensuring the safety and success of the 2024 NATO Summit. Your hard work and commitment make these events possible. #NATOSummit2024 #NATO #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/kdIhuiOpFN

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) July 13, 2024

Security Measures Under Scrutiny

The gunman managed to fire eight rounds from a rooftop, a known vulnerability that had not been properly secured in advance. This security lapse has raised serious questions about the thoroughness of event protection strategies. Local law enforcement spotted the gunman 90 minutes before the shooting, but he continued moving undeterred until he opened fire.

“This was a security failure, and there is both an internal and external independent investigation,” Attorney General Merrick Garland stated. “They will provide lessons learned to prevent such a failure from happening again.”

Sources indicate that the reliance on local police and a potentially thin spread of Secret Service resources may have compromised the event’s security. Additionally, a whistleblower within the Secret Service alleged that officials discouraged agents from requesting additional security for the rally.

During a recent interview with @CNN, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle discussed the July 13 security lapses and emphasized our agency's dedication to preventing similar incidents in the future.https://t.co/YyL0dBGw2D

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) July 17, 2024

Leadership Changes and Future Steps

The fallout from the incident includes the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, then-director of the Secret Service, who faced significant backlash. Ronald Rowe, now acting director, has promised an exhaustive investigation into the protective failures experienced. The Secret Service has stated that any substantiated violations of policy will be investigated thoroughly for potential disciplinary action.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, says it “holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action.”

Senators like Chuck Grassley have emphasized the urgent need for accountability, and former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro criticized the planning and operation of the rally, suggesting that there might be deeper, institutional issues within the Secret Service. The reassessment aims to fortify the agency’s capacity to protect high-profile individuals moving forward.