A House task force report reveals shocking security failures in Trump assassination attempts, with the Butler, Pennsylvania incident deemed “preventable.”
At a Glance
- House task force report exposes major security lapses in Trump assassination attempts
- Butler, Pennsylvania rally incident resulted in Trump being shot in the ear and one fatality
- Florida assassination attempt was successfully thwarted due to effective security measures
- Task force recommends sweeping changes to Secret Service operations and structure
- FBI investigation of Butler incident ongoing, with suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks in custody
Butler Incident: A Preventable Tragedy
The House task force’s final report on the assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump has shed light on significant security inadequacies, particularly regarding the Butler, Pennsylvania rally incident. The report states unequivocally that the attack, which resulted in Trump being shot in the ear, two attendees injured, and one person killed, could have been prevented with better planning and communication.
“The Task Force found that the tragic and shocking events in Butler, Pennsylvania were preventable and should not have happened,” the 180-page report declares.
The FBI is investigating the Butler shooting as an attempted assassination and potential domestic terrorism. Nearly 100 interviews have been conducted, and hundreds of digital media tips are being reviewed. The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, acted alone and was not previously known to the FBI.
Florida Incident: A Stark Contrast
In stark contrast to the Butler tragedy, a subsequent assassination attempt in Florida was successfully halted due to effective security measures. The report commends the protective measures that foiled this attempt, stating, “Conversely, the events that transpired on September 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida, demonstrated how properly executed protective measures can foil an attempted assassination.”
During the Florida incident, a man with a gun was discovered in the bushes and fled after a Secret Service agent opened fire. The suspect, Ryan Routh, was subsequently arrested and is awaiting trial.
Task Force Recommendations
The task force, led by Rep. Mike Kelly, has called for sweeping changes within the Secret Service. Key recommendations include:
1. Reducing the number of foreign leaders protected by the Secret Service during election seasons.
2. Considering moving the Secret Service out of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
3. Reviewing Secret Service protocols for golf courses and other vulnerable locations.
4. Limiting the number of individuals receiving Secret Service protection to conserve resources.
“The Secret Service’s protective mission is at the core of the agency’s purpose — anything that distracts or diverts resources from the agency’s zero fail mission must be reconsidered,” the report emphasizes.
Ongoing Investigations and Agency Response
The task force has highlighted discrepancies in responses from federal agencies such as DHS, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As of the report’s publication, these agencies had not produced documents related to the second assassination attempt in Florida.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged the report’s findings, stating, “The U.S. Secret Service appreciates the diligence and dedication displayed by Chairman Kelly, Ranking Member Crow and the distinguished members of the House Task Force as they investigated and identified the factors that contributed to the assassination attempt of President-elect Donald Trump and the Secret Service’s failures during the protective advance leading up to July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
