The infamous sniper's nest at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach — the site of the second major assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump — is due to known vulnerabilities on the property. The bipartisan House task force found out in its final report that it was located near the city. Tuesday.
The report further states that on the same day, September 15, the Secret Service implemented the “full range” of protection procedures for President Trump, 78, due to the impropriety of his golf outing. indicated that it was rejected.
“Despite Trump International Golf Club being surrounded by public rights-of-way and protected only by chain-link fencing, trees, and brush, the Secret Service failed to enforce the full range of regulations. [redacted] prior to former President Trump’s arrival on September 15,” the 180-page report states.
“Unfortunately, this property had significant vulnerabilities, particularly those related to its perimeter, which the Secret Service had previously identified as a vantage point for potential snipers. “The location has been publicly reported,” the report said, adding that its location “has been publicly reported.” The location where the sniper's nest was set up was “known to the photographer.”
Acting Secretary of the Secret Service Ronald Lowe said he received short notice about the golf outing. According to reports, the agency was informed at 2:30 a.m. that day that the president-elect intended to visit the golf course around 12:30 p.m.
However, according to reports, President Trump arrived at the golf course about an hour earlier than scheduled.
Cellphone data showed the suspect waited about 12 hours before being identified by the Secret Service, authorities earlier told the public in court documents. At the time, he was not thought to have had a clear view of the next president.
A Secret Service agent spotted a sniper's rifle protruding from the bushes about 90 yards (270 feet) from President Trump and opened fire, scaring the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58. However, he was later detained by authorities.
House leaders announced in July that they would create a bipartisan task force to investigate the July 13 assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a bullet grazed the president's right ear.
The commission released a 53-page interim report in October, but did not delve into the golf course assassination attempt.
As with the preliminary version, the final report found that the events that occurred on the day of the first major assassination attempt were “tragic and avoidable, and the series of related security failures is unacceptable.” I've come to a conclusion.
The final report redacted many new details about the Sept. 15 attempt, but did show that there were certain assets and procedures the Secret Service did not use prior to Trump's arrival at the golf course. There is.
In its final report, the task force outlined more than 30 major recommendations, including three directly related to the Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach incident.
This includes the use of specialized vehicles (details redacted) on golf courses, research into protocols to protect golf courses, and increased use of K-9 cleaning.
Last week, the task force held an intense hearing with Mr. Lowe to consider the findings and brainstorm additional ideas to improve the Secret Service.
The hearing last September came after Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) attended the 9/11 memorial in person and disavowed Mr. Lowe's decision to take a prominent place, drawing the ire of the acting chief. At one point, there was a screaming commotion.
During that hearing, Mr. Lowe suggested that the Secret Service could override the president or a ward if it determined they could pose a significant risk.
President Trump has not announced who will serve as the head of the Secret Service under the next administration.
Both Mr. Lowe and the special committee's report exposed the reality of a Secret Service overwhelmed by its responsibilities.
“We were able to strengthen our net and protect our veteran investigators,” Lowe said in testimony last week. “Part of that is giving them retention incentives, which we've just rolled out now, making it easier to retain them.”
However, concerns about the morale of protection agencies remain significant.
Investigators recently responded to a “reply to all” email sent by a Secret Service boss to a subordinate reprimanding him for requesting time off for personal reasons from a special agent in the Presidential Protective Division (PPD). I was indignant.
“There’s a lot going on. Requests for vacation or RDO. [rostered days off] It won't be over next week…this isn't just this week's story. It means to continue until PPD occurs. You need to manage your personal life and family expectations, and you have at least two weeks to apply or it won't happen, the email said. By RealClearPolitics.
“ADL works so hard to achieve a magical schedule each week that the ripple effect of wanting to take the following Tuesday off to groom the dog means everything has to change. yeah.”
One source complained to RealClearPolitics that the tone of the letter “makes you wonder why people are leaving.”
The newspaper has contacted a Secret Service spokesperson for comment.
The task force also recommended measures to strengthen the Secret Service's protections, including a more thorough review of the agency's budget and maintenance, slimming down the agency's protectors, and considering moving the Secret Service out of the Department of Homeland Security. It presented a number of recommendations to Congress. Security and increased Congressional authority to obtain classified documents from law enforcement agencies.
The special committee must submit a formal public report by Friday this week, and will be dissolved 10 days after submitting its report, ahead of the next parliamentary session.
Still, many members of the committee have publicly argued that Congress still has much work to do, and their biggest complaint is that some key agencies, such as the Justice Department and the FBI It provides only limited cooperation in specific areas. ”
The final report outlines a list of outstanding materials that the soon-to-be-defunct select committee hopes members of Congress will have access to from these institutions.
