Congressional Inquiry into Trump’s Assassination Attempt
A congressional inquiry into the attempt to assassinate US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally a year ago on Sunday lamented “inexcusable” failures in the Secret Service’s operations and response, and called for more serious disciplinary action.
Assassination Attempt Details
On July 13, 2024, a gunman shot the then-Republican presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. One bystander was killed and two other people, in addition to Trump, were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.
Report Findings
“What happened was inexcusable, and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation,” said the report released by the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The report energised Trump’s bid to return to the White House, with his campaign using a photo of him bloodied and pumping his fist as he was hurried offstage to woo voters.
The report did not shed new light on the gunman’s motive but accused the Secret Service of “a cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life.”
Response and Reforms
The Secret Service cited communication, technical, and human errors and said reforms were underway, including on coordination between different law enforcement bodies and the establishment of a division dedicated to aerial surveillance.
Six unidentified staff have been disciplined, with punishments ranging from 10 to 42 days’ suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or non-operational positions.
Reflecting on the assassination attempt, Trump acknowledged mistakes but expressed satisfaction with the investigation. He mentioned the sniper’s skill in preventing a worse outcome and described the events as unforgettable.
