Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) on Thursday said the U.S. Secret Service was responsible for “multiple security failures” that preceded the July 13 attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump in the first hearing of the House task force investigating both assassination attempts against the former president.
Members of the task force investigating the assassination attempts against Trump during their inaugural hearing, led by Kelly, lauded the performance of local law enforcement while warning that Secret Service failed to adequately protect Trump and attendees of his rally in Butler on July 13, when Thomas Crooks killed Corey Comperatore, shot the former president in the ear, and injured other Trump supporters in attendance.
“There were security failures on multiple fronts,” said Kelly. “To date our investigation has identified three key factors. First, Secret Service planing, or perhaps more accurately, their failure to adequately plan, created confusion among the agency’s law enforcement partners. The Secret Service was not assertive on key decisions like the placement of some of the units and delegating responsibilities.”
Kelly next revealed Secret Service neither closed nor managed public access to the area adjacent to the rally site, “less than 150 yards away from the stage where former President Trump spoke.”
He also reiterated previous allegations about communications failures hurled at Secret Service, stating, “the security communications and command structure were not cohesive and did not allow for rapid decision making. Information in a moment of crisis went through radio communications, text messages, and phone calls way too slowly. Second hand reports were passed in a manner resembling the old children’s game telephone.”
Multiple "security failures" by the U.S. Secret Service allowed a gunman to open fire in an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, Rep. Mike Kelly said Thursday.
On July 13, a gunman scaled a roof and opened fire on Trump at a campaign rally… pic.twitter.com/btsaRhKn6Q
— PBS News (@NewsHour) September 26, 2024
Kelly stated, “Altogether, these other failures led to a dysfunctional security situation that took the life of Mr. Comperatore, injured two others, and nearly claimed the former president’s life.”
Other members of the bipartisan task force highlighted similar findings, including Representative Jason Crow (D-CO-06), who additionally credited the performance of local law enforcement.
“Efforts by individual law enforcement officers may have saved lives and prevented a far greater tragedy,” said Crow. “It is also clear, however, that the communication between the Secret Service and local and state partners was disjointed and unclear.”
The task force also released video, which Kelly said was captured from a Pennsylvania State Police patrol vehicle’s dashboard camera, which shows law enforcement spot Crooks on a rooftop then attempt to gain access to the area where the shooter was stationed.
Kelly also revealed the police officer who spotted Crooks injured his ankle after rapidly descending the roof when the shooter pointed his weapon at the officer.
JUST IN: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) unveils never before seen dash cam footage of the events that occurred on July 13 in Butler, PA. pic.twitter.com/Bpq5egevVn
— Trending Politics (@tpbreaking) September 26, 2024
A former Secret Service agent also told the task force during the hearing the event was “very atypical” due to the lack of a unified command post for law enforcement agencies.
“Normally, there will be an overall command post for the entire visit, and each side will have what’s called a security room, where radio traffic pertinent to that individual side is controlled,” said former Secret Service Agent Patrick Sullivan. “This is very unusual, the way it turned out here at this site.”
The task force follows the release of a report by the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which declared the assassination attempt was “preventable,” with “planning missteps, to the siloed and flawed communication to the lack of effective coordination between law enforcement, to the breakdowns in technology,” all listed as contributing factors to the failures on behalf of Secret Service that “led to tragic consequences.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
