Bethal Park, Pennsylvania – Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) fired back at the Secret Service’s criticism of local police for not cleaning the roof where suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot former President Trump, was stationed.
Lankford, the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee, spoke to Fox News Digital with details of the Secret Service and FBI’s official call with senators on Wednesday.
He said the official leading the investigation into the assassination attempt on President Trump tried to shift the blame by saying local police were responsible for the “outer layer” in which Crooks was stationed, carrying an AR-15-style rifle.
Secret Service continues to face questions as FBI investigates Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) speaks in an interview outside the Fiserv Forum on the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Nick Oxford/AFP via Getty Images)
“They talked about tiering: the Secret Service is the first tier, the second tier is federal law enforcement, which is made up of several different agencies, and the third tier is local law enforcement.”
“We all know how it works as a system, but they try to say that was the outer layer. This is really a local law enforcement issue,” he said.
Police snipers take up position on a rooftop before a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Todd the Driller)
Lankford said it would be a “mistake” to hold the Secret Service accountable because it is the lead agency responsible for coordinating all law enforcement agencies.
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“That’s wrong,” he said. “The Secret Service is responsible for coordinating all of this.”
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is watched by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Lankford said Secret Service agents were made aware of the “threat” 15 minutes before Trump took the stage.
The president should never have been allowed on stage.
“They had been informed that there was an active search underway for an individual who was perceived to be a threat,” he said. “At that point, the president should never have been allowed onstage.”
“Police should have determined that this individual was a threat or arrested him,” he said, “but they chose not to, and that became very clear.”
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is hurriedly escorted off the stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma senator said elected officials are now trying to get answers about who told Trump to take to the stage despite known threats against him.
“We’re trying to figure out who made that decision,” he said. “Why was the decision made the way it was?”
Police search Thomas Matthew Crooks’ van for hidden explosives, video shows
Lankford said he expects the FBI and Secret Service to provide the department’s mitigation strategies to both elected officials and the American public.
“Explain the mitigation measures,” he said. “If someone had been on the roof, could that have mitigated the damage?”
“Obviously, that didn’t happen, at least proactively,” he said.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle holds a press conference in Chicago on June 4. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Lankford revealed that Kimberly Cheatle, director of the US Secret Service, began the discussion by saying her team “clearly” made mistakes and wanted to speak “openly.”
“She’s the first to say, obviously we made a mistake,” he said. “We made a mistake, and we’re conducting an internal investigation, and we’re going to be forthright in our announcement.”
Senators said that despite Attorney General Cheatle’s promise of transparency in his opening statement, he only took a few questions and only provided a timeline of events.
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“When facts aren’t shared, conspiracy theories flourish,” he said. “There’s no way to combat disinformation.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi for comment.
