There was a significant oversight by the Secret Service in failing to prevent the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, remarked former Secret Service agent Tim Miller in an interview with Fox News on Sunday morning.
During an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump, the likely 2024 GOP presidential candidate, was struck by a bullet that grazed his right ear around 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, in what the FBI termed an assassination attempt. Video footage captured Trump’s Secret Service team shielding him with their bodies to safely escort him into a vehicle and away from further danger.
Trump’s spokesperson confirmed his well-being, but one rally attendee lost their life, and two others are in critical condition. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired shots from a nearby rooftop, was taken down by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
Following the incident, questions arose on how Crooks managed to take the shot, prompting calls for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down.
Appearing on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom on Sunday, Miller, with 30 years of law enforcement and military background, stated, “There’s no easy way to explain what happened. I have conducted numerous site assessments, prioritizing high-risk locations like elevated spots since the tragic 1963 assassination of President Kennedy. Not covering that rooftop was a significant oversight. Many inquiries must be answered regarding the advance site preparation, security assignments, and the split-second reaction to an unknown gunman on the roof.”
It was noted by a law enforcement source that the rooftop where the shooter positioned had been checked prior to the event and found empty, as reported by ABC News.
A rally attendee shared with BBC News that he attempted to alert the authorities and the Secret Service about the shooter crawling onto the roof with a rifle during the event.
Former Secret Service agent Paul Eckloff elaborated on ABC News’ This Week With George Stephanopoulos on Sunday about how such incidents could take place and detailed the agency’s “textbook response.”
“Campaign events differ significantly from presidential protection protocols,” he explained. “Campaign occasions prioritize accessibility and visibility of Mr. Trump over security.”
Eckloff added, “The Secret Service diligently plans these sites. However, the unfortunate truth is that they operate within a historical context of political violence in America, leading to primarily reactionary responses. The response seen yesterday, upon reviewing the footage, was exemplary.”
“The former and current Presidents regularly face threats. The U.S. Secret Service treats threats seriously, responding based on the level of threat. They continuously assess and react to the ever-evolving threat landscape in executing their duties,” he emphasized.
House Investigation Commences
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, announced on Saturday evening on X (formerly Twitter): “THE HOUSE WILL CONDUCT A THOROUGH INQUIRY INTO THE TRAGIC EVENTS TODAY. The public deserves the truth. We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other pertinent officials from DHS and the FBI summoned for a hearing before our committees soon.”
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into the shooting, inviting Cheatle to testify on July 22.
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, commended the valor of the individual Secret Service agents who shielded President Trump, neutralized the shooter, and potentially averted further casualties in a letter sent on Saturday requesting Cheatle’s appearance at the hearing.