Butler County District Attorney Pushes Back on State Police Commissioner's Testimony in Trump Rally Security Lapse

In a press release, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger responds to Col. Christopher Paris' congressional testimony, claiming it mischaracterizes local law enforcement's response before and during the shooting at Trump's rally.

The Butler County District Attorney has challenged the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner's testimony regarding the security lapse that led to gunfire at former President Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. In a press release, District Attorney Richard Goldinger claims that Col. Christopher Paris' statements misrepresent the actions of local law enforcement officers before and during the incident.

According to Paris' testimony before a congressional committee, Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) officers were responsible for securing the area where the gunman, Thomas Crooks, took shots at Trump. Paris suggested that ESU officers left their post to pursue a suspicious person, potentially giving Crooks an opportunity to attack.

Butler County District Attorney Pushes Back on State Police Commissioner's Testimony in Trump Rally Security Lapse

Goldinger disputes this account, stating that local officers were at their designated posts when gunfire erupted. He says that two snipers spotted Crooks and alerted the Secret Service and PSP to his presence. While one officer briefly left the building to follow a suspicious individual, the other officer remained at his post.

Goldinger emphasizes that the officers followed their assigned duties and were not responsible for Crooks' undetected approach. "To say that these officers left their post is a misstatement," Goldinger said in the release. "These ESU officers and all of the other ESU officers, volunteered their time to be present for the rally to assist the Secret Service. They performed the duties to which they were assigned."

Butler County District Attorney Pushes Back on State Police Commissioner's Testimony in Trump Rally Security Lapse

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the PSP said it stands by the testimony provided by Paris. The statement reads, "Our agency stands by the testimony. The investigation into the shooting and its aftermath continues."

The Butler County District Attorney's response highlights the ongoing debate about the security arrangements for Trump's rally and the roles of various law enforcement agencies in preventing the shooting.

Butler County District Attorney Pushes Back on State Police Commissioner's Testimony in Trump Rally Security Lapse