Following the assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Secret Service has admitted specific mistakes. An internal investigation revealed various communication failuresalso in exchange with local emergency services, said the agency’s acting head, Ronald Rowe, in Washington.
Some important information was not passed on through the usual communication channel and therefore did not reach everyonehe said. Problems were identified in advance but were not passed on to superiors and not resolved.
Rowe said individual agents who had checked the site in advance were negligent, resulting in a breach of security procedures. “These employees will be held accountable.” He stressed that various technical and organizational changes have been initiated since the attack.
Since the attack, Trump has also received the same protection as the incumbent president. Rowe also pointed out that the Secret Service is under particular pressure due to the election year and many other high-profile events. “We have limited resources, and we are currently stretching those resources to the maximum.”
The assassination in Butler
A gunman shot and killed a Republican Party campaign rally in mid-July opened fire in the town of Butler in the state of Pennsylvania and shot at TrumpOne visitor to the rally died and two others were injured. Trump was injured in the right ear. The perpetrator was killed by security forces.
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting high-ranking politicians – including the incumbent president, but also former office holders or presidential candidates such as Trump.
After the assassination attempt on the Republican, there was much criticism of the Secret Service’s actionsbecause, despite all the security measures, the shooter was able to get to a nearby roof with a direct view of the stage. There were also indications that the young man had already attracted the attention of security officials with his behavior before Trump’s appearance, but the ex-president was still allowed to go on stage.
The then head of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, admitted a failure of service after the attack and later resigned. Rowe took over and said she was “ashamed” of the failures at the crime scene.
Just a few days ago there was another incident: The Secret Service shot an armed man hiding in the bushes at Trump’s golf course in Floridawhile the ex-president was playing there. The suspect himself did not fire a bullet and fled, but was arrested and charged a short time later. The authorities assume that he also wanted to assassinate Trump. (dpa)
