Secret Service suspends five agents after assassination attempt on former President Trump—find out what went wrong.
At a Glance
- At least five U.S. Secret Service agents, including the head of the Pittsburgh field office, have been placed on leave following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
- The agents placed on leave include one member of Trump’s personal protective team and four members from the Pittsburgh Field Office.
- The assassination attempt occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where Trump was grazed by a bullet.
- The gunman, Thomas Crooks, fired eight rounds from a rooftop, killing one crowd member and injuring two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
- The Secret Service holds personnel to high professional standards, and any policy violations will be investigated for potential disciplinary action.
Agents Placed on Leave
Following the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the Secret Service has placed at least five agents on leave. This group includes the head of the Pittsburgh Field Office, one member of Trump’s personal protective team, and four other agents from the same office. The serious nature of the situation has prompted this immediate action.
The rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 turned tragic when former President Trump was grazed by a bullet. The assailant, Thomas Crooks, managed to fire eight shots from a rooftop position, tragically killing Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, and injuring two others. Crooks was eventually neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
Investigation Underway
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has confirmed that a “mission assurance review” is in progress to understand the processes and factors that led to the failure. While he declined to confirm that the agents were placed on leave, he mentioned, “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.”
The agency faces intense scrutiny for failing to secure the rooftops surrounding the rally venue. Concerns over the Secret Service’s reliance on local police and their briefing adequacy have also emerged. Additionally, the Secret Service was reportedly flagged about the gunman’s suspicious behavior near event magnetometers well before the shooting.
Congressional Oversight and Accountability
Congress has launched an investigation into the incident, asking for extensive records from various law enforcement agencies. Acting Director Ronald Rowe assured the public of a thorough probe to address any lapses and prevent future occurrences. “There must be accountability at the Secret Service for its historic failures that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump,” stated Rep. James Comer.
Attorney General Merrick Garland added, “This was a security failure and there is both an internal and external independent investigation. They will provide lessons learned to prevent such a failure from happening again.”
Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector, was critical of the planning and operation of the rally. Mauro pointed out gaps in the agency’s security measures, suggesting institutional issues that need addressing. His comments highlight the broader problems within the Secret Service, emphasizing the need for a complete overhaul to restore its credibility.
