exclusive – Two victims injured in the assassination attempt on President-elect Trump in July are scheduled to attend the inauguration of the 47th president in Washington, D.C., on January 20th.
On July 13, gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, opened fire on then-presidential candidate Trump as he spoke from the podium during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing David Dutch, 57. ) and James Copenhaver, 74, were seriously injured.
“James and David are extremely grateful to President Trump and his team for inviting them to Inauguration Weekend,” Dutch and Copenhaver said in a statement through their attorney Joseph Feldman. “They are honored to be part of the celebration with the incoming administration and other guests. President Trump has treated both of our clients like family.”
“Mr. Trump and his team have been nothing short of admirable in maintaining open lines of communication with their families and have shown great interest in James and David's long road to recovery,” Feldman said. he added.
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LR: David Dutch and James Copenhaver. (Facebook; handout for families)
Mr. Copenhaver and Mr. Dutch had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with the president-elect after winning the 2024 election, but “thanks to the horrific events that occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, they They will be united forever.”
The third victim, Corey Comperatore, is a husband, father of two, and former fire chief. Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department — was shot and killed while protecting his wife and daughter from gunfire.
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Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore was pictured with his daughters in an undated family photo. Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, attacked and killed Comperatore in a crossfire. Secret Service agents fired back and killed the scammers. (Helen Comperatore/Facebook)
“While our clients have the great honor of attending the inauguration with President Trump, they would like to remember that there will be one person who will not be attending, and we once again extend our prayers and condolences to Comperatore. “I want to represent my family,” Feldman said.
“As always, their support for President Trump is unwavering, and they both look forward to putting America first for the next four years.”
Both Dutch and Copenhaver were shot twice during the assassination attempt, leaving President Trump with an ear injury. The president-elect credited his campaign staff with changing the slides in his rally presentation in time for him to turn around the moment Crooks' bullet hit him, saying he survived the election. He said it was a credit to the staff.
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David Dutch leaves Trump rally after being shot. (Facebook/Beaver County Republican Committee)
Both victims have spent several weeks in hospital recovering from their injuries, which have since affected their daily lives and will be held accountable.
“While they are far from recovered, and in fact will never fully recover, their presence at the inauguration is a tribute to their strength and love for their country,” Feldman said. “We would like to thank the President and his team for ensuring their needs were met throughout the weekend. On behalf of James and David, I would like to thank them for their continued prayers and support.”
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Former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Both victims said Crooks was able to climb onto the roof of the nearby one-story American Glass Research (AGR) building and fire shots at President Trump, about 500 feet from the candidate's podium. I still have doubts as to whether it was possible. Although the building was close to the gathering, it was not strictly within official boundaries.
Officials said the gunman Climbed air conditioning equipment and piping He went to the roof of the AGR building and hid there until he started shooting around 6:11 p.m.
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Approximately two hours before Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on former President Trump and rally attendees, chilling video has been released showing him casually walking through a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, main, Iron Clad USA, inset)
”[W]I united states of america” Feldman previously told Fox News Digital. “We put a lot of money into the security resources of this country, especially our relationship with the federal government. And we go to rallies to support politicians politically…The security is provided by the federal government. But it fails.”
Crooks also parked his car and flew a drone about 200 meters away from where the former president was scheduled to give a speech between 3:50 and 4 p.m. that day. FBI Director Christopher Wray At a July 17 Congressional hearing, Crooks testified that he was at the rally for about 70 minutes on the morning of the assassination attempt.
Check out Copenhaver's POV:
House Select Committee Investigates July and September Incidents assassination attempt A journal dedicated to President Trump's life released its final report in December, detailing “pre-existing conditions and leadership failures” that led to the deadly campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
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“Various failures in planning, execution, and leadership leading up to July 13, 2024, combined with pre-existing conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed on that date, led to the combination of the former President and all “Created a safe environment in which to work,” the report said, “at a campaign event that exposed them to serious risk.”
House leaders asked the government whether the Secret Service should operate as an independent agency rather than under the Department of Homeland Security, and because the number of senior officials receiving Secret Service protection has increased over the years. , recommended reconsidering who can receive Secret Service protection. Its funds are limited.
FOX News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
