The local district attorney said the U.S. Secret Service was trying to shift the blame, even though it was responsible for security lapses during the assassination attempt.
“This is unacceptable and must never happen again.”
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said: interview In an interview with The Washington Post, Goldinger said that while SWAT teams in local jurisdictions are stationed within secured areas, security outside of those areas is the responsibility of the Secret Service.
“The Secret Service was in charge and it was their responsibility to ensure security at the venue and in the surrounding area,” he explained.
“I think that’s common sense. That’s their job,” Goldinger continued. “When they blame the local police, I think they’re just shifting the blame where they are.”
Goldinger was responding to a Secret Service source telling The Washington Post that local county SWAT snipers were inside the building the gunman climbed to attack former President Donald Trump.
The Secret Service told The Washington Post that counter-snipers opened fire as soon as they saw the gunman raise his weapon, but had already fired at Trump before he was shot dead.
Also on Tuesday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle maintained that the Secret Service bears ultimate responsibility for the fiasco but refused to resign.
“The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the former president,” Cheatle said in an interview. “I take responsibility. I am the director of the Secret Service. This is unacceptable conduct and should never happen again.”
Some blamed the Secret Service’s failure on Cheatle’s determination to implement diversity and inclusion practices within the organization.
On Monday night, the former president made his first public appearance since the shooting, walking into the Republican National Convention to thunderous applause from supporters. Some viewers said he had a bandaged ear and appeared humble.
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