First appearance on Fox: Fox News Digital has learned through public records, interview transcripts and the Senate committee investigating the July 13 security failure that former President Trump will appear at an outdoor rally after the Federal Aviation Administration's special flight. I learned what the (USSS) knew. The limit (TFR) has expired.
One representative told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, citing past instances where former presidents remained at rallies after restrictions had expired, saying they had warned their superiors in advance but requested extended security was not granted. he testified.
The FAA typically issues TFRs for things like natural disasters, professional sporting events, and presidential actions.
Aircraft, including civilian drones, are not allowed to fly when TFR is in place.
Trump assassination attempt: Thomas Crooks investigates the scene, law enforcement uses second-hand drone deployed
On July 13, 2024, former President Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents during an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Pennsylvania rally site is not in controlled airspace, according to public records requested and obtained by Fox News Digital. The lack of restrictions underscores the president's security justification for TFR, which would even prevent mainstream consumer drones equipped with GPS technology from entering the airspace.
“It depends on the type of drone, but [some] “It's connected to an airspace database and could even prevent individuals from taking off,” James McDonalls, chair of the Sonoran Desert Institute's Unmanned Technology Graduate Program, told Fox News Digital.[A TFR is] First, to close down our airspace and protect our safety and security. ”
Drone investigators assigned to the July 13 rally said at a Congressional hearing that the Secret Service typically obtains TFR over the area while protected persons, such as the president or major presidential candidates, are in the area. He testified that he was.
Lawmakers are shown standing in the building where would-be assassin Thomas Crooks shot former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Fox News)
According to an interim joint report released July 13 by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is investigating the Secret Service failures, the TFR was in effect from 4:20 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on the day of the rally. It is said that it was done.
A Secret Service counter-drone agent discussed additional TFR protections for the former president with another agent the day before the rally. They thought the TFR should be maintained longer, given that President Trump's rallies often end late.
“I have seen it expired at other events, but [Trump] “I wish we had TFR in place during that period,'' the drone investigator testified in an interview.
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Former President Trump speaks at a rally in Uniondale, New York, on September 18, 2024. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
However, according to reports, the agent's request for an extension was denied without any explanation.
According to a source close to the committee, “The denial of the CUAS (Counter Unmanned Aircraft System) advance agent's request for a TFR extension is internal to the USSS, and the C-UAS advance agent is not sure why the request was denied. “I didn't know that,” he said.
Anti-drone investigators said the request was made directly to the assistant special agent in charge on July 12, the day before the rally.
“What I wanted was [the TFR] Because it starts earlier and lasts longer,” the drone investigator testified.
A screenshot taken from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's interim report on the Trump assassination attempt shows an excerpt of the site's response memo created after the July 13 rally. (Homeland Security and Political Affairs Committee)
However, TFR extensions were not introduced.
According to the records, the drone agent did not know whether the assistant special agent in charge had the ability to extend the TFR. Typically, requests go through the Secret Service and then to the FAA for final approval.
“As a standard procedure, the FAA does not deny TFR requests from the U.S. Secret Service,” an FAA spokesperson told FOX News Digital.
Trump took the stage around 6 p.m., an hour after he was originally scheduled to speak and 15 minutes before TFR was scheduled to end. The Secret Service claims President Trump was protected under the TFR at the time of the shooting, but would-be assassin Thomas Crooks rushed to fire on the former president five minutes before it expired. did. Mr. Crooks was killed by a counter sniper shortly after. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, but Secret Service agents surrounded him and escorted him away. Crooks' volley killed one spectator and injured two others.
Thomas Crooks attends a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13th. (Senator Ron Johnson)
“Flying unmanned aircraft systems within U.S. Secret Service restricted areas is always illegal, and the U.S. Secret Service takes a variety of visible and invisible measures in protected locations,” the Secret Service said. said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Secret agency 'repeatedly' rejects local drones ahead of Trump's July 13 rally: whistleblower
Drone agents also testified that anti-drone equipment, including a drone detection system, suffered technical problems on the morning of the rally and remained inoperable until 4:33 p.m.
Crooks flew his drone for 11 minutes over the rally venue at 3:51 p.m., just 30 minutes before the TFR took effect, which may have prevented Crooks from flying his drone. The report reveals that had the CUAS system been operational, it would have detected Crooks' drone conducting pre-rally surveillance.
Snipers take up position on the roof of former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024. (Matthew McDermott, Fox News Digital)
Drone agents told senators that if anti-drone systems were operational at the time Crooks flew the drone, the timing would have been outside the scope of the TFR, and requested a “consensual interview” with Crooks. He said he would have done so.
Acting Secretary of the Secret Service Ronald Lowe said at a joint hearing of the Homeland Security and Judiciary committees on July 30 that technical deficiencies in anti-drone systems “have no effect on the ultimate consequences for the perpetrators.” “I got a lot of sleep,” he testified.
Ronald Rowe, Jr., Acting Director of U.S. Secret Intelligence, testifies during a joint committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on July 30, 2024. (Michael A. McCoy of The Washington Post via Getty Images)
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified at a July 17 Congressional hearing that Crooks had been at the venue for about 70 minutes earlier in the day. after that–Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after testifying about the incident before members of Congress, and several agents have been placed on leave as investigations continue.
The Secret Service also rejected repeated offers from local police to provide drone coverage during the rally, according to a letter from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. It is said that he did.
“According to one whistleblower, on the eve of the rally, the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly rejected offers from local law enforcement partners to use drone technology to secure the rally,” Hawley wrote.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is surrounded by Secret Service agents with blood on his face after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
“I understand why the USSS refused when it was proposed to use a drone, especially given the fact that the USSS had allowed the gunman to fly his own drone over the rally area just hours earlier. It’s difficult to do.” [the] “The failure to deploy drone technology is compounded by the fact that, according to the whistleblower, the drones provided by the USSS had capabilities that could help not only identify active shooters but also neutralize them. “It’s concerning,” he continued.
FOX News Digital has learned that the Secret Service is working with the FAA to grant presidential candidates additional airspace protection following the assassination attempt on President Trump.
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“Following the events of July 13, the U.S. Secret Service, in collaboration with our partners at the FAA, has expanded standard TFR protections for presidential candidates to ensure the highest level of safety and security for all candidates. ” the Secret Service announced. statement.
“As part of Acting Director Ron Lowe's plan for an agency-wide paradigm shift, the U.S. Secret Intelligence Service will also research emerging technologies, including those related to the use of (unmanned aircraft systems) and countermeasures. We have launched a dedicated research and development office. UAS is taking steps to ensure we have access to the most cutting-edge technology possible to keep our people safe.”
