The rooftop where the gunman nearly assassinated former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was located had been identified as a potential vulnerability days before the incident, according to reports.
Two sources “familiar with government activities” Said NBC News reported that the Secret Service was aware of the dangers associated with the roof of a glass research company next door to the Butler Farm Show, where the rally was being held.
“They should have secured the building to make sure someone was on the roof or that no one could get on the roof,” a former senior Secret Service agent familiar with the planning told NBC News.
The rooftop was about 150 yards from where Trump was speaking, and Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the outlet that the service had designated the rooftop for local police jurisdiction.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger, however, told NBC News that Secret Service agents were handling security outside the venue, which NBC News said was “outside the event’s security zone, but only about 148 yards from the stage.”
“They had a meeting the week before. The Secret Service was in charge. They were the ones directing who was going to do what,” Goldinger said. “They were at the top of the chain of command, they were number one.”
Both the former senior Secret Service official and Goldinger said the Secret Service is ultimately responsible for securing areas outside the venue.
“Just because it’s outside the perimeter doesn’t make it exempt from vulnerability. You have to mitigate it in some way,” the former official said.
“To me, this is all under the purview of the Secret Service, and they will work out the details from there,” Goldinger said.
“You can’t leave it up to local police to decide what to do,” former Secret Service agent Anthony Cangelosi told NBC News.
He added: “In other words, you’re in charge of the perimeter, but you want to say, ‘We need cops on that roof,’ not ‘That’s your responsibility, do what you think is appropriate.'”
The Secret Service provides security for former presidents and presidential candidates, but also works with local law enforcement for special events such as rallies.
According to NBC News, Guglielmi said the Secret Service had deployed two counter-assault agents to the event, supplementing the rest of the platoon with at least six officers from the Butler County Tactical Unit, as well as two counter-sniper teams.
Counter-attack agents typically deal with potential attacks, while counter-sniper teams deal with potential snipers.
Guglielmi told NBC News that the other two security units needed for the event were provided by local law enforcement agencies.
Republicans and Democrats alike are demanding explanations.
According to NBC News, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) has asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for documents about security plans for the event, the vetting of attendees, and the resources provided to Trump’s Secret Service.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) asked other questions in a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who approved the security plan.
“We demand that all those responsible for conceiving, approving and implementing this failed national security plan be held accountable and testify before Congress immediately,” he wrote in a letter to Cheatle.
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