Secret Service leaders issued an update at 1 p.m. on the agency's internal investigation following the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“In today's highly dynamic threat environment, the Secret Service's mission is clear: failure is not an option,” Acting Director Ronald Lowe said.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the aftermath of the shooting and at least five others have been appointed to administrative positions amid the investigation. Separate investigations by the House and the FBI are ongoing.
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Acting Director of the U.S. Secret Service Ronald Rowe Jr. testifies at a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees on July 30, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Rowe described the Secret Service's preparations for the rally, when a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, struck President Trump in the ear, killing one spectator and wounding two others, as a “failure”.
The suspect had a clear view of the former president from an unsecured rooftop approximately 150 yards away.
As a result of these failures, it has become clear to me that we need a paradigm shift in how we conduct operations. As demonstrated on Sunday in West Palm Beach, the evolving threat level requires this paradigm shift.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Uniondale, New York, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. During his speech, Trump praised the Secret Service force as “incredible,” just days after a second assassination attempt on him was thwarted. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
“It is important that we take responsibility for the failure of July 13 and use the lessons learned to ensure such a mission failure never happens again,” Rowe said.
He said authorities were moving to a “phase of accountability” and expected action would be taken against staff who failed to ensure security at the site.
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“The Office of Professional Ethics and Integrity is reviewing the findings,” Rowe said. “The agency has the toughest penalty policies in the federal government and any violations of these policies will result in disciplinary action.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks crawls across a rooftop moments before attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. (DJ Laughery (background))
Police thwarted a second assassination attempt on Sunday, authorities said.
An agent protecting President Trump was walking a few hundred yards ahead of the president at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when he saw a rifle barrel protruding from one of the trees surrounding the club.
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Ryan W. Routh, suspected of plotting to assassinate Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump at a golf course in West Palm Beach, stands handcuffed after being arrested for a traffic violation near Palm City, Florida, on September 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Distributed via Reuters)
President Trump praised the agents who opened fire and helped the suspect drop the gun and flee.
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Police subsequently arrested a man named Ryan Routh, who allegedly camped out next to a fence for nearly 12 hours with a loaded SKS, a digital video camera, food, and other supplies before being located by investigators.
