Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have released a bipartisan interim report examining the U.S. Secret Service’s security planning, communications, and coordination failures that contributed to the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report includes key findings and recommendations aimed at addressing these failures to ensure the Secret Service can effectively carry out its protective mission.

“Our initial findings clearly show a series of multiple failures of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and an inexcusable dereliction of duty,” said Ranking Member Paul. “Not only did USSS fail to ensure the AGR roof was adequately covered, they were also aware of a suspicious individual with a rangefinder for at least 27 minutes and did not delay proceedings or remove former President Trump from the stage, even after being informed that the suspicious individual was on the roof of the AGR building. Someone needs to be held accountable for these egregious failures by the USSS, and despite USSS, DHS, FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies’ continued obstruction of our bipartisan investigation, I will continue to push for answers and accountability.”

“From planning missteps, to the siloed and flawed communication to the lack of effective coordination between law enforcement, to the breakdowns in technology, the Secret Service’s failures that allowed an assassination attempt on former President Trump at his July 13 rally were shocking, unacceptable, and preventable – and they led to tragic consequences,” said Chairman Peters. “Moving forward, our bipartisan interim report makes recommendations for needed reforms to address these serious failures, provide accountability and transparency for the American people, and ensure that the Secret Service has the tools and resources they need to prevent another disaster like this from happening.”

“Shortly after the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, PA," said Ranking Member Johnson. "I released preliminary findings detailing some of the significant security failures that occurred on that day. Today’s interim report expands on those security failures but the investigation is not complete. Federal agencies like the Secret Service, FBI, and DOJ continue to withhold records that are vital to this Committee’s work. There is still much more information that public and Congress deserve to know."

“What happened on July 13 was an accumulation of errors that produced a perfect storm of stunning failure,” said Chairman Blumenthal. “It was a tragedy and completely preventable from outset. There was both a failure to provide resources – like a working radio drone detection system or counter surveillance team –and lack of an effective chain command Looking forward we need structural reform in agency itself The Secret Service is filled with dedicated skilled men women who serve our country great risk themselves personal sacrifice they deserve better leadership Today’s report only interim step I look forward continuing pursuit evidence help understand what went so catastrophically wrong how we can prevent event like this ever happening again”

The interim report titled "Examinationof U.S.SecretService Planning Security Failures Related July 13 Assassination Attempt" details various shortcomings by U.S.SecretService including inadequate coverage AGR roof poor communication between agents during incident absence necessary technological support

In days following attack Senators Paul Peters announced bipartisan investigation examine security failures led assassination attempt Former President Donald Trump They convened joint hearing Senate Judiciary Committee where senators heard testimony Ronald Rowe Acting Director U.S.SecretService Paul Abbate Deputy Director Federal Bureau Investigation

Senators traveled Butler Pennsylvania speak local law enforcement officials examine Butler Farm Show grounds AGR building law enforcement pressed federal state local law enforcement agencies provide additional information related security preparations response attack during campaign rally Pennsylvania