In the period preceding the July assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, an internal Secret Service assessment has now identified “multiple operational and communications failures” by the agency.
The preliminary results revealed a multitude of planning deficiencies, including an unclear chain of command between the agency and local law enforcement partners at the rally and an incapacity for them to communicate effectively across various radio frequencies.
It also discovered that certain personnel failed to adhere to Secret Service protocol, which raises concerns regarding potential future disciplinary actions.
Ronald Rowe, the acting director of the Secret Service, called for a “paradigm shift” in the agency’s approach to its protective security responsibilities during a press conference on Friday in response to the findings.
“This was a failure on the part of the United States Secret Service. It’s important that we hold ourselves accountable for the failures of July 13, and that we use the lessons learned to make sure that we do not have another failure like this again,” Rowe remarked.
“While some members of the advance team were very diligent, there was complacency on the part of others that led to a breach of security protocols.” he continued.
On Sunday, the Secret Service prevented a second apparent assassination of Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The former president was allegedly pursued by a man armed with a pistol.
The subject was observed by a Secret Service agent, who fired shots, and a suspect was subsequently apprehended.
The initial findings in the report are based on the Secret Service’s known deficiencies in the planning and response to a the assassination attempt that resulted in the death of one rally attendee and two injuries, including one to former President Trump, during a July rally in Butler, PA.
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