Feds Launch Major Probe into Secret Service Following Trump Assassination Plot

The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general announced on Wednesday the opening of an investigation into the Secret Service’s response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday.

This alarming development follows a significant security breach where a 20-year-old suspect managed to come within 157 yards of Trump’s rally stage, despite prior warnings from attendees and local police.

The investigation will scrutinize the Secret Service’s procedures regarding security for Trump’s July 13, 2024, campaign event. Notably, there was no specified launch date for this investigation.

Onlookers raised the alarm, but Crooks began firing at Trump before police intervened. One shot grazed Trump’s ear, another killed a rally attendee, and two more were injured. Crooks’ vehicle, containing an explosive device, was found parked nearby.

Subsequent revelations disclosed that Crooks climbed undetected atop a building where police were already stationed, exposing failed communication and surveillance lapses.

Addressing the nation, President Biden emphasized a need to reduce political tensions and announced a review of the rally’s security measures. Concurrently, lawmakers have initiated their own probes, underscoring the event’s severity.

The House Committee on Homeland Security scheduled an oversight hearing, calling on prominent officials including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify. Republican representative Mark Green emphasized the critical need to understand the security failings.

Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, also issued a subpoena for Cheatle’s testimony, calling the incident a “total failure” of the Secret Service’s mission. Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee will focus on the FBI’s investigation and its broader implications.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced an investigative task force and called for Cheatle’s resignation. The ongoing FBI investigation found no clear motive for Crooks’ actions after extensive searches and interviews.

Crooks, identified as a registered Republican with historical ties to liberal donations, has no verified connection to international threats despite recent concerns about follow-on or retaliatory attacks. His history included membership in a local shooting club, with the weapon used belonging to his father.

The shooting incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of security protocols, especially given previous Iranian threats against Trump. Consequently, security measures have visibly intensified around both Trump and President Biden, while independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has finally received Secret Service protection.

As investigations proceed, the balance between political discourse and public safety remains a focal point for both governmental authorities and the general public. The ramifications of this attempted assassination continue to unfold, revealing vulnerabilities and prompting immediate responses to prevent future threats.