The U.S. Secret Service and Director Kimberly Cheatle are under intense scrutiny following a shocking security breach at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The incident, involving a gunman who fired at Trump from a rooftop, has raised significant concerns about the agency’s preparedness and response.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, managed to climb onto a rooftop approximately 150 meters from where Trump was speaking and fired multiple shots with an AR-style rifle. Director Kimberly Cheatle has been criticized for the lapse, particularly her explanation that snipers were not positioned on the same rooftop due to its sloped nature.
So here’s the situation … pic.twitter.com/uxpzEsna5v
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 17, 2024
Videos and photos from the event show the gunman taking shots at Trump from the elevated position before being neutralized by Secret Service snipers positioned on an opposite roof. Despite the presence of a heavily armed counterassault team and snipers known as "Hercules," the assailant got close enough to injure Trump, who was hit in the ear and seen bleeding as he was whisked away by security.
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has demanded a thorough investigation into the security failures. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that such lapses are unacceptable given the high stakes of presidential security. Green has sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking answers about the decisions made by the Secret Service leading up to the rally.
🚨 Man killed at rally may have saved Trumps life.
Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed during the Trump assassination attempt, was actually in between Trump and the shooter.
Shown also in the new footage attached. pic.twitter.com/wNct1Hby0X
— Alex James (@actualAlexJames) July 18, 2024
President Joe Biden has also called for an independent review of the security measures at the rally, expressing his concern over the incident. Biden directed the Secret Service to reassess security protocols for the upcoming Republican National Convention to ensure such a breach does not occur again. Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service coordinator for the convention, assured the public that comprehensive planning is in place.
Former top Secret Service agents have criticized the decision not to place snipers on the sloped roof, arguing that such a measure could have prevented the gunman from getting so close. They stressed that the agency must conduct a deep investigation to understand how the security plan failed and to prevent future incidents.
Timothy McCarthy, a retired agent, emphasized the importance of learning from this event to bolster security measures for future presidential candidates and former presidents.
As the investigation continues, the Secret Service faces mounting pressure to provide answers and improve its security strategies. The incident has not only shaken public confidence but also highlighted the critical need for stringent security measures at high-profile political events.
