A recent report by Senator Josh Hawley has revealed serious shortcomings in the Secret Service’s protective measures during the aftermath of the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident, which occurred on July 13, exposed significant flaws in the security protocols for the former president and led to intense scrutiny of the Secret Service. Following the shooting, the head of the agency resigned, and a bipartisan congressional task force has been investigating the security lapse.
According to the whistleblower report released by Hawley, a Missouri Republican, there were critical security failures when Trump was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital. The report describes the hospital as inadequately secured, with the site agent unable to answer fundamental questions about the security arrangements. This lack of preparedness was compounded by the revelation that the lead Secret Service agent responsible for the hospital security had previously failed a crucial federal law enforcement training examination and was deemed a “low caliber agent.”
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, attacked Trump during the rally, injuring him in the ear. Whistleblowers allege that the Secret Service’s response at the hospital was chaotic and disorganized, with agents not fully aware of the situation or capable of managing the security threat effectively. Moreover, the report suggests that key intelligence units, which could have helped coordinate a more robust security response, were notably absent from the rally.
In light of these findings, Hawley has called for a complete overhaul of the agencies involved, urging Congress and the president to take swift action to address these systemic failures. He criticized the Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security for their lack of transparency and unwillingness to confirm or deny the allegations brought forth by whistleblowers.
This report comes on the heels of another security scare involving Trump. Just a day before the report’s release, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested near Trump’s golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, with an AK-style rifle. A Secret Service agent promptly intervened, averting a potential disaster. Despite these incidents, Trump has expressed confidence in the Secret Service’s ability to protect him, mirroring his sentiments after the Butler shooting. Special Agent Rafael Barros from the Miami Field Office underscored the high threat levels facing public figures today, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance and robust security measures.