Sen. Hawley says Trump rally security was mostly unprepared and inexperienced, not Secret Service
The Secret Service’s handling of security at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt, has come under scrutiny. According to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, whistleblowers have revealed that inexperienced personnel, not from the Secret Service, were responsible for security. Hawley has demanded answers from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and raised concerns about security lapses, including individuals gaining access to restricted areas without proper authorization. The incident has been described as a “staggering security failure” by Hawley, who is calling for transparency and accountability in the investigation. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee to provide more information about the events leading up to and following the assassination attempt. The Secret Service has expressed its commitment to understanding what happened and ensuring that such incidents do not occur again.
The Secret Service did not assign its best people to the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally at which former President Donald Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt, according to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
“Whistleblowers tell me that MOST of Trump’s security detail working the event last Saturday were not even Secret Service,” Hawley posted on X on Friday.
“DHS assigned unprepared and inexperienced personnel,” he said.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the senator expanded on his allegations and demanded answers.
🚨🚨 Whistleblowers tell me that MOST of Trump’s security detail working the event last Saturday were not even Secret Service. DHS assigned unprepared and inexperienced personnel 👇 pic.twitter.com/eo4jNmJWFT
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 19, 2024
“Whistleblowers who have direct knowledge of the event have approached my office. According to the allegations, the July 13 rally was considered to be a ‘loose’ security event,” Hawley wrote.
“For example, detection canines were not used to monitor entry and detect threats in the usual manner. Individuals without proper designations were able to gain access to backstage areas,” he said.
“Department personnel did not appropriately police the security buffer around the podium and were also not stationed at regular intervals around the event’s security perimeter,” the senator said.
Hawley said there was a deeper reason for the problems with security than those that have been reported.
“In addition, whistleblower allegations suggest the majority of DHS officials were not in fact USSS agents but instead drawn from the department’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),” he wrote. “This is especially concerning given that HSI agents were unfamiliar with standard protocols typically used at these types of events, according to the allegations.”
The senator rebuked Mayorkas, saying, “Unfortunately, your department has not been appropriately forthcoming with Members of Congress — abruptly ending the only call with USSS before most senators could even ask a question. This is completely unacceptable and contrary to the public’s interest in transparency.
“Instead, we have learned more from whistleblowers than your department’s officials.”
Hawley then asked several questions about the reliance on state and local police, the number of security personnel used who were not part of the Secret Service, and details of the preparation to protect Trump on the day of the rally.
“This incident represents a staggering security failure by the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to appropriately protect the former president and prevent violence at a peaceful political event,” Hawley said in a news release on Wednesday.
“A host of critical questions remain unanswered, and it is vital that the American people know the truth as soon as possible,” he said.
Nobody in the Biden Admin ever takes responsibility for anything
Nobody in the Biden Admin ever gets fired
One thing’s for sure: Biden’s Secret Service Director should be gone pic.twitter.com/XrJFM0bfr1
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 18, 2024
On Monday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle will testify before the House Oversight Committee, according to ABC News.
“The Secret Service is fully accountable for the safety of its protectees,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Gugliemi said. “We are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure it never happens again.
“That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI, and other relevant investigations.”
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