Secret Service Under Fire: Trump Assassination Attempt Raises Alarm
Submitted by MAGA
Posted 46 days ago
The Secret Service is under intense scrutiny following the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident, which occurred at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, has raised serious questions about the agency's ability to protect its protectees.
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. She will face withering criticism over the agency's handling of the rally, which resulted in the near-assassination of Trump, the murder of one rally-goer, and serious injuries to two more individuals.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, had used a drone earlier in the day to capture footage of the rally grounds. Investigators also found "rudimentary explosives" in his vehicle. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper but not before firing off several shots, including one that grazed Trump's ear.
Republicans are understandably angry and emotional about the incident. Many are calling for Cheatle's resignation. Democrats have yet to join them in denouncing the agency, but they should. The incident represents a systemwide failure that poses an immediate threat to all Secret Service protectees, including President Joe Biden.
Cheatle's public statements have done little to inspire confidence in her leadership. She has claimed that the agency provided "additional security enhancements" to Trump's detail in June. However, whistleblowers have disclosed that officials from the DHS' Homeland Security Investigations unit, not seasoned Secret Service agents, represented the majority of Trump's detail on July 13.
The Secret Service must answer several crucial questions during Monday's hearing. Why was Trump allowed to take the stage even after law enforcement flagged Crooks' suspicious behavior? Why didn't the Secret Service utilize air cover for the event? Why did agents fail to install a barrier between the vulnerable high site where Crooks took position and the stage?
The stakes could not be higher. The Secret Service must learn from its mistakes and redouble its efforts to protect candidates from what are likely to be increasing dangers over the next four months and beyond. Political, educational, religious, and other leaders must denounce violence advocated and practiced by those on their side of the political divide. It is easy to denounce violence by one's opponents. It is far more difficult, but more important, to denounce violence by one's allies.
The Secret Service must be revamped. It should be devoted exclusively to preventing and responding to attacks on its protectees. It must get out of the unrelated business of investigating currency counterfeiting and other crimes. The agency must learn from its mistakes and implement changes to ensure the safety of all its protectees.
Sources:
declassified.live
gatestoneinstitute.org
hotair.com
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. She will face withering criticism over the agency's handling of the rally, which resulted in the near-assassination of Trump, the murder of one rally-goer, and serious injuries to two more individuals.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, had used a drone earlier in the day to capture footage of the rally grounds. Investigators also found "rudimentary explosives" in his vehicle. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper but not before firing off several shots, including one that grazed Trump's ear.
Republicans are understandably angry and emotional about the incident. Many are calling for Cheatle's resignation. Democrats have yet to join them in denouncing the agency, but they should. The incident represents a systemwide failure that poses an immediate threat to all Secret Service protectees, including President Joe Biden.
Cheatle's public statements have done little to inspire confidence in her leadership. She has claimed that the agency provided "additional security enhancements" to Trump's detail in June. However, whistleblowers have disclosed that officials from the DHS' Homeland Security Investigations unit, not seasoned Secret Service agents, represented the majority of Trump's detail on July 13.
The Secret Service must answer several crucial questions during Monday's hearing. Why was Trump allowed to take the stage even after law enforcement flagged Crooks' suspicious behavior? Why didn't the Secret Service utilize air cover for the event? Why did agents fail to install a barrier between the vulnerable high site where Crooks took position and the stage?
The stakes could not be higher. The Secret Service must learn from its mistakes and redouble its efforts to protect candidates from what are likely to be increasing dangers over the next four months and beyond. Political, educational, religious, and other leaders must denounce violence advocated and practiced by those on their side of the political divide. It is easy to denounce violence by one's opponents. It is far more difficult, but more important, to denounce violence by one's allies.
The Secret Service must be revamped. It should be devoted exclusively to preventing and responding to attacks on its protectees. It must get out of the unrelated business of investigating currency counterfeiting and other crimes. The agency must learn from its mistakes and implement changes to ensure the safety of all its protectees.
Sources:
declassified.live
gatestoneinstitute.org
hotair.com
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