Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

Members of Congress have visited the site of former President Donald Trump's attempted assassination, with Republican lawmakers sharply criticizing the Secret Service's handling of the security arrangements. The lawmakers questioned the agency's failure to secure the roof where the gunman was positioned, as well as its communication with local law enforcement.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), toured the Butler Farm Show Grounds in Pennsylvania, where the assassination attempt took place. Gimenez, a former police officer and member of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed frustration with the Secret Service's response and called for the resignation of its director, Kimberly Cheatle.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

Gimenez pointed to the "sloped roof" of the building where the gunman, Thomas Crooks, was perched as a glaring security lapse. He argued that the Secret Service should have been able to secure the roof, regardless of its steepness.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) described the scene as "a complete disaster," stating that the Secret Service had failed to plan adequately for the rally. He questioned why the agency had not included any snipers in its initial plans.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

Rep. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) previously released a timeline of the events leading up to the shooting, highlighting several failures by the Secret Service. He said that the agency did not attend a security briefing given to local law enforcement and did not have a plan for snipers.

Gimenez echoed concerns raised by Rep. Elijah Crane (R-Ariz.) about the lack of a Secret Service presence in the local command center. He said that this lack of communication created an environment for disorganization and confusion.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

Crane pointed out a tall water tower near the farm show grounds as an ideal location for Secret Service countersnipers, but he said that it was not being used.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said that the facts about the scene "speak for themselves." He emphasized the importance of the committee's upcoming hearing on the assassination attempt.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) accused the Secret Service of getting "horribly wrong" on July 13, stating that it was "thwarted" by a 20-year-old with no military or law enforcement training. He said that the agency's $3 billion budget and 3,000 employees should have prevented such a failure.

LaLota questioned the tactics and decision-making of the Secret Service, as well as the administration and culture fostered by Cheatle. He expressed concerns about how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives may be affecting the agency's effectiveness.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling

The lawmakers' statements follow the release of Sen. Johnson's preliminary findings, which detailed the Secret Service's failures in the lead-up to the assassination attempt. The investigation found that the agency did not attend a security briefing, had limited communication with local law enforcement, and did not initially plan to include snipers at the rally.

The Secret Service has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawmakers' visit and the preliminary findings.

Lawmakers Visit Site of Trump Assassination Attempt, Question Secret Service's Handling