A recent government watchdog report revealed that the U.S. Secret Service was unaware of over 100 radio transmissions regarding the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. The agency missed these transmissions as it had not set up a joint communications room with local law enforcement. Local authorities were receiving updates about a suspicious individual eventually identified as Thomas Crooks.
Contrary to the numerous local transmissions, the Secret Service only received five phone calls and three text messages about Crooks, failing to alert President Trump’s protective detail about the potential threat. Crooks, who was shot and killed by law enforcement at the rally, managed to open fire on Trump while he was addressing the crowd. A bystander was killed, and several individuals, including Trump, were injured during the incident.
The report also highlighted that Crooks flew a drone over the rally area before the shooting, which went undetected due to the Secret Service’s malfunctioning counter-drone system. The system was operated by a single under-trained individual who did not test it before the event, leading to a significant delay in detection as Crooks conducted a nearly nine-minute drone flight unnoticed.
The report emphasized several deficiencies in the Secret Service’s security protocols during the event, echoing previous investigations that pointed out inadequacies in their arrangements. The agency has since acknowledged the findings and stated that many of the recommendations outlined in the report were already implemented as part of their ongoing reform efforts.
