The America First Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit Thursday afternoon against the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, accusing them of “illegally concealing government records” by delaying Freedom of Information Act requests it filed in July and August following the first assassination attempt against Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump.
According to the complaint, obtained by The Blaze News, the AFL began investigating the deadly shooting that occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The AFL submitted multiple requests for information to DHS as part of its investigation into the USSS's preparations for and response to the attack.
“There is broad, bipartisan recognition that there have been catastrophic failures.”
Authorities were asked to produce documents and records relating to communications on the day of the assassination attempt, schedules of USSS and DHS employees for the month prior to the attack, and documents and records relating to USSS hiring and hiring standards and staffing levels.
According to the complaint, all FOIAs filed “[c]A situation which could reasonably be expected to result in an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of any person if prompt action is not taken. [President Trump]”There is also an urgency to inform the public about actual or suspected Federal government activity when perpetrated by individuals primarily engaged in disseminating information,” he said.
In its lawsuit, the AFL noted that it received a letter from the USSS denying its request to expedite information about the agency's staffing levels.
The USSS reportedly told the AFL it had “not established that there is a threat to the life or physical safety of any individual.” [had AFL] There is a demonstrated special urgency to inform the public about government activities related to the request that goes beyond the public's right to know about government activities generally.”
“Your letter is conclusory in nature and does not present any facts justifying granting expedited processing under the applicable standards,” the agency reportedly responded.
On September 15, a second assassination attempt took place at Trump's golf course in Florida after the USSS told the AFL it had failed to prove there was an imminent security threat.
“On July 13th, the American people watched in horror as a madman attempted to assassinate former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump. Today, there is broad bipartisan recognition of the devastating failures that tragic day and in the weeks and months that followed,” AFL Executive Director Gene Hamilton said in a statement.
“We are committed to obtaining these records so the American people can see for themselves exactly what senior leaders at the Department of Homeland Security were prioritizing their work and why more resources were not devoted to protecting President Donald J. Trump,” Hamilton added.
“As a long-standing policy, the U.S. Secret Service does not comment on pending or planned litigation,” the USSS told The BlazeNews.
DHS did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get stories like this directly to your inbox. Register here!
