A recent report from Congress’ watchdog indicates that high-ranking Secret Service officials did not share “classified threat information” with the agents assigned to protect President Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that this information was presented to Secret Service personnel just ten days before the assassination attempt in Butler on July 13, 2024. However, certain sensitive details regarding the agency’s “silent practices” contributed to threats to Trump’s safety going unnoticed.
According to the GAO report, “[T]his Secret Service had no process to share classified threat information with partners if the information was not deemed an imminent threat to life.” The findings were made public on Saturday by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
The specifics surrounding the threat, described in the report as “highly categorized,” were not elaborated upon.
The report noted that the Secret Service’s advance team and local law enforcement responsible for devising security plans for the event were unaware of the potential danger. Members of the advance team assigned for the Butler rally did not receive relevant threat information.
An agent from the Pittsburgh Field office, which oversees the area of the rally, informed the GAO that he also wasn’t given any information about the threat.
The report noted that he was seeking additional resources, like ballistic glass and drone support, when he became aware of the situation.
In the lead-up to the rally, the Secret Service had “multiple opportunities to share this information.”
Senator Grassley remarked, “About a year ago, a series of poor decisions and bureaucratic hurdles resulted in one of the most startling moments in political history. The Secret Service’s failure on July 13 stemmed from years of mismanagement and occurred after the Biden administration turned down requests for enhanced security for President Trump.”
“Americans should be thankful that President Trump made it through that day and went on to be re-elected to bring common sense back to our country.”
The report describes that Thomas Matthew Crooks injured Trump and two other individuals and fatally shot firefighter Corey Comperatore during the rally in Butler last July.
Grassley characterized the 98-page GAO report as providing “a holistic view of the failures leading up to and during July 13.” He emphasized that the report offers a clear direction for the Secret Service to make necessary improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Additionally, the GAO scrutinized the roles of agents assigned to the Butler rally. It found that five of the 14 agents interviewed depended on their varying levels of experience for event protection, with little regard for the operational plans of local law enforcement.
According to the report, the Secret Service Site Agent at Butler found identifying vulnerabilities at the site new to her role. This rally was her first experience with securing a significant outdoor event.
Moreover, the Secret Service lacked drones that might have helped spot shooters, as some had been assigned elsewhere during the events.
On Saturday, Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that the agency is actively working to implement the GAO’s recommendations and has already made substantial progress on some fronts. He offered reassurance that the Secret Service is taking the events of July 13 seriously and is focused on reforming to address those challenges. Curran expressed appreciation for the ongoing support from federal and local partners in securing necessary resources for President Trump’s efforts, Congress, and institutions.
