Having performed security work for the U.S. Navy and Defense Department for many years, and having covered crime, espionage and terrorism as a writer for many years, I have some questions for the U.S. Secret Service regarding the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
The Secret
Service director’s statement about the roof on which the would-be assassin fired his rifle being sloped, and therefore unsafe for Secret
Service special agents to have been positioned there, is one troubling comment.
Still, I’d like to reserve judgment until the investigation of the incident is complete, and so should all Americans.
Below is a statement from U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle (seen in the above photo):
I would like to start by
extending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Corey
Comperatore, who was killed during the assassination attempt on former
President Donald Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, as well as
those who were injured during this senseless act of violence.
Secret Service personnel on the ground
moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing
the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the
safety of former president Donald Trump.
Since the shooting, I have been in
constant contact with Secret Service personnel in Pennsylvania who worked to
maintain the integrity of the crime scene until the FBI assumed its role as the
lead investigating agency into the assassination attempt. I have also been
coordinating with the protective detail for former President Trump and have
briefed President Biden on the details of the incident.
The Secret Service is working with all
involved Federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it
happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place
again. We understand the importance of the independent review announced by
President Biden yesterday and will participate fully. We will also work with
the appropriate Congressional committees on any oversight action.
The incident in Pennsylvania has
understandably led to questions about potential updates or changes to the
security for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The U.S. Secret
Service, in conjunction with our Federal, state and local law enforcement and
public safety partners, designs operational security plans for National Special
Security Events (NSSE) to be dynamic in order to respond to a kinetic security
environment and the most up-to-date intelligence from our partners.
I am confident
in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have
put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s
shooting. The security plans for National Special Security Events are designed
to be flexible. As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the
direction of the President, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our
operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and
security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee. In
addition to the additional security enhancements, we provided former President
Trump's detail in June, we have also implemented changes to his security detail
since Saturday to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the
remainder of the campaign.
The Secret Service is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy. It is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously, and I am committed to fulfilling that mission.
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