The Secret Service is currently under scrutiny following a nearly successful assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for 2024 presidential election.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, positioned himself on a rooftop where he had a direct line of sight to Trump and fired a bullet that penetrated his ear.
The shooter was about 150 yards away from where Trump was speaking.
Witnesses also claim they tried to report the shooter to the Secret Service and police.
The shooter was nearby and visible, even to some of the rally attendees. The perpetrator was found and videotaped. Because they were trying to assassinate President Trump.
Rally attendee Michael DiFriscia captured the moment the gunman opened fire and killed people. Said According to TMZ, he and his wife Amber were watching Trump’s rally from outside the main venue along with about 30 to 40 other people.
His wife said she noticed Crooks climbing onto a nearby building.
They and others said they saw him crawl up the side of a building with a rifle and then open fire.
In addition, another rally participant Said According to the BBC, he noticed the gunman and tried to signal to police and the Secret Service at least three to four minutes before the shooting.
About five to seven minutes after Trump began speaking, he said:
… We noticed a military-looking guy, a bear-like guy, crawling up the roof of the building next door, about 50 feet away. So we just stood there, pointing, pointing at the guy crawling up the roof…
We could clearly see he had a rifle. Absolutely. We were pointing at him. The cops were running around below. We were like, “Hey, there’s a guy on the roof with a rifle.” And the cops were like, “What? What?”
I mean, they didn’t know what was going on. I mean, we were like, “Hey, here on the roof. I can see it from here. I can see him. He’s crawling.” And the next thing I know, I’m thinking, “Why is Trump still talking? Why don’t they get him off the stage?” I was standing there for like two or three minutes, pointing at him. The Secret Service was watching us from the top of the barn. I was standing there like this, pointing at the roof. And the next thing you know, five gunshots rang out…
… We told the police that they pointed him out to the Secret Service, who were watching us from the top of the barn. They were watching us the whole time we were standing by the tree… But they were using binoculars. He was behind us, in line with the slope of the roof, so they could see. But why don’t they have Secret Service in every room here? This isn’t a very big place.
Witnesses said they saw Secret Service agents return fire on the gunman, killing him.
BREAKING: Witnesses told the BBC they called police and the Secret Service to report a suspicious man with a rifle on the roof.
He was ignored. pic.twitter.com/Cvfb7znZtZ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 13, 2024
One video shows rally attendees yelling “He’s got a gun!” before the first shots are rang out in the plot to assassinate President Trump.
🚨🇺🇸#breaking newsNew footage shows the crowd spotting the shooter before the Secret Service takes action.
“He has a gun!” several people yell.
oh… pic.twitter.com/3vgxPZD6fV
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) July 14, 2024
Another video showed an “anti-sniper team” taking aim at the gunman before opening fire.
This seems really awful.
It appears that an anti-sniper team monitored the suspect and allowed him to shoot first before firing back.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) July 14, 2024
“This is really bad. Looks like the anti-sniper team had their eye on the gunman and let him shoot first before firing back,” political commentator and former NYPD officer posted on X.
At a press conference after the assassination attempt, a senior FBI official said even the bureau questioned how the Secret Service gave the go ahead to fire multiple shots at the assassin.
An FBI special agent admitted it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots. Again, the Secret Service was not present at the press conference and therefore could not answer any questions, which is pretty surprising.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 14, 2024
The Secret Service was not present at the press conference, which Collins called “astonishing.”
Tonight he had to refer some questions to the Secret Service.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 14, 2024
The Secret Service was not at the press conference but was seen speaking with reporters backstage.
Collins said she had heard from a source, who she declined to name, that Secret Service protection for Trump had recently been increased.
NEWS — I’ve heard that former President Trump’s Secret Service protection has been stepped up recently.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 14, 2024
Additionally, NBC News reported that a senior law enforcement official said the shooter was outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service.
A Secret Service spokesman later issued a statement saying the service had “neutralized” the shooter.
Here is the latest update from our investigation. We thank our Secret Service team and law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our hearts go out to the family affected by this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/E8FazqtUVZ
—Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 14, 2024
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), an Army Special Forces veteran, posted on X, “A very credible source tells me there have been repeated requests to President Trump to beef up Secret Service presence. Director Mayorkas has refused.”
Conservative TV host Dan Bongino, a former NYPD cop and Secret Service agent, claimed that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has “repeatedly refused” requests for more Secret Service protection for President Trump.
“I can say again, categorically: USSS Director Kim Cheatle has repeatedly refused requests to increase security around President Trump, despite knowing the threat level is catastrophic. Resign tonight,” he posted on X.
Again, there is no question that USSS Director Kim Cheatle has repeatedly refused requests to add more security around President Trump, knowing that the threat level is devastating.
I’m resigning tonight. https://t.co/v3UQyTt1dK— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) July 14, 2024
He also called the Secret Service’s performance a “catastrophic failure.”
I have been actively in contact with several former Secret Service colleagues regarding the assassination attempt. This was clearly a catastrophic failure and should not be excused or attempted. The failure was serious and calls into question our forward work and response on the ground, aerial, post-standing support and counter-sniper forces. We only have one job, and today we came inches away from a fatal failure. A casual failure is not a success.
He has been in active contact with several former Secret Service colleagues about the assassination attempt.
This is clearly a catastrophic failure and there should be no excuses or even attempts to make excuses.
The failure is serious and questions on the ground must be answered…— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) July 14, 2024
And The Federalist’s Sean Davis said “sources familiar with Trump’s security” said they ““We have requested increased protections and resources for weeks, but have been repeatedly denied by Biden’s Department of Homeland Security.”
“The Department of Homeland Security, which provides security for the Secret Service, has not responded to requests for more resources, sources said. Was the Biden Administration behind the attack or did everything it could to intentionally allow it to happen?” he posted.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said he had asked the Secret Service for a briefing and invited Cheatle to appear at a hearing.
🚨🚨🚨
I have already contacted the Secret Service for clarification and have invited Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to attend the hearing. The Oversight Committee will be sending out a formal invitation shortly.
My prayers go out to President Trump and the victims.
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 14, 2024
He then formally invited Mr Cheatle to attend the hearing.
🚨Formal invitation to testify to Director of the Secret Service Mr. Cheatle. 👇 https://t.co/C9QWSDHGDr
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 14, 2024
President Joe Biden is expected to receive an update from the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement officials on Sunday morning, NBC News reported. report.
The shooting happened just a day before the Republican National Convention was to begin and just days before President Trump was to accept the GOP nomination for president.
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