In the wake of the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the lead sharpshooter of the SWAT team collaborating with the U.S. Secret Service has come forward with a critical assessment of the day’s events, revealing a significant lapse in communication between agencies.
In an interview with ABC News reporter Aaron Katersky, members of the local SWAT team from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, discussed the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt on Trump.
The SWAT team had been positioned on the second floor of the American Glass Research Building 6, the same building from which shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, later fired upon the rally.
The lead sharpshooter noted that they were supposed to have a “face-to-face briefing” with Secret Service agents upon their arrival, which never happened.
Read: Pennsylvania State Police Warned Secret Service Of Shooter Before Attempted Trump Assassination
“We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service snipers whenever they arrived, and that never happened. So I think that that was probably a pivotal point where I started thinking things were wrong because that never happened, and we had no communication with the Secret Service,” the lead SWAT sharpshooter said during the interview.
Katersky pressed the sharpshooter on whether there had been any communication from the Secret Service “at all on that Saturday.” The SWAT leader confirmed there was none “until after the shooting.”
“And by then —” Katersky interjected before the SWAT sharpshooter concluded, “It was too late.” The SWAT team had identified Crooks as “suspicious” before the shooting, sending texts with descriptions and pictures of the 20-year-old. However, due to the lack of communication with the Secret Service, this information was not relayed to their leaders.
Read: Trump Vows To Continue Outdoor Rallies Despite Secret Service Warnings
The SWAT team had been assigned to the second floor of the American Glass Research Building 6 by the Secret Service, limiting their view to the crowd at the Trump rally. Katersky reported that the team’s inability to see Crooks was not due to the roof’s slope or weather conditions but was the result of their placement by the Secret Service.
Following the attack on Trump, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced significant backlash as reports detailed the multiple security lapses on the day. Despite immediate calls for her resignation, Cheatle remained in her position until July 23.
Read: FBI Clarifies That Bullet Struck Trump During Assassination Attempt At Rally
Cheatle resigned a day after her testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where both Republican and Democratic lawmakers criticized her for the security failures during the event.
“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign as your Director,” Cheatle wrote, acknowledging shortcomings in the agency’s performance on the day of the shooting, July 13, when it “fell short” of its duty to safeguard national leaders.
President Joe Biden expressed appreciation for Cheatle’s years of public service in a statement, announcing plans to appoint a new director promptly.
“Leading with honor, courage, and utmost integrity, particularly in assuming full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of public service’s most challenging roles,” Biden remarked on Cheatle’s tenure.
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Calls for Cheatle’s resignation from both sides of the aisle in Congress intensified following her appearance before the House Oversight Committee, where she faced criticism for evading many questions.
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