A House task force investigating the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign concluded that the incident was “preventable” and highlighted failures in planning, execution, and leadership that exposed Trump and others at the event to significant danger.
In a 180-page report released Tuesday, the panel detailed findings from its investigation into the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, as well as a second assassination attempt in Florida on September 15.
The report underscores lapses in security leading up to the Pennsylvania attack while commending the effective protective measures that thwarted the Florida attempt.
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The report attributes the failures surrounding the Pennsylvania incident to preexisting issues within the Secret Service and other agencies, including insufficient planning, leadership gaps, and inadequate training.
“The failures on and before July 13 created an environment in which the former President — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger,” the report stated.
Among the significant shortcomings identified, the report noted the lack of coordination between the Secret Service and state and local law enforcement, failure to secure the building from which the gunman accessed the roof, and inadequate deployment of protective measures.
In contrast, the response to the Florida attempt was highlighted as an example of how properly executed security measures can prevent assassination attempts.
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The panel noted that its work was hindered by restrictions from federal agencies, including the Justice Department, Secret Service, and FBI, which limited access to key details. This included encrypted messaging accounts of the Pennsylvania shooter, ballistic analysis, and interviews with Trump and his campaign staff.
“The system was onerous and unnecessarily inhibited the ability to share information with Members and the public,” the report said.
Recommendations for Improvement
The report proposed several measures to enhance presidential security, including:
- Reducing the number of individuals under Secret Service protection.
- Considering structural changes to the Secret Service, potentially removing it from the Department of Homeland Security.
- Requiring the Secret Service to have full ownership of security planning for high-profile events.
- Increasing congressional oversight and mandating that Secret Service radio transmissions be recorded.
The task force also criticized the lack of state and local coordination for the Butler rally and recommended changes to ensure clear lines of responsibility for securing event venues.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testified that the agency has implemented changes in the wake of the July 13 shooting. These include deploying drones and counter-drone technology, making structural changes, and increasing Trump’s protective detail during the campaign’s final months.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for the recommendations and pledged collaboration with the incoming Trump administration to address the identified security failures.
“We can never again experience such a dangerous and deadly security failure,” Johnson said.
The findings and recommendations underscore the need for a comprehensive review of security protocols to ensure the safety of current and future protectees in an increasingly volatile political environment.
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