Secret Service Official Encouraged to Retire After Trump Assassination Attempt

A high-ranking Secret Service official who led the protective operations for former President Donald Trump has been encouraged to retire following a security failure during an assassination attempt against Trump.

A high-ranking leader within the United States Secret Service (USSS) has been encouraged to retire nearly two months after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, a source involved at the highest levels of the internal investigation told Fox News.

The official, Assistant Director Michael Plati of the agency's Office of Protective Operations, led the section in control of planning for protection of Trump, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. JD Vance and others, and is ending his tenure there this Friday, his 27th anniversary at the agency.

Secret Service Official Encouraged to Retire After Trump Assassination Attempt

The Secret Service responded in a statement Tuesday that Plati "was not asked to resign or retire by anyone. This was a personal decision that he has made and we thank him for his 27 years of dedicated service to the federal government." Still, others involved in the investigation have not disputed the underlying narrative that he was encouraged to resign following the July 13 security failure in Butler that has sent shock waves through all levels of the agency.

Michael Plati, the U.S. Secret Service assistant director for the office of protective operations, has been encouraged to retire from his position. Plati will be ending his tenure with the USSS in the coming days. (United States Secret Service)

Secret Service Official Encouraged to Retire After Trump Assassination Attempt

Plati gave over a month's notice to make time for a transition. Fox News is told it will come out in the days and weeks ahead when Congress is briefed that the retirement is indeed related to the shooting investigation, but his spokesman said that it was planned and that the timing was coincidental.

"Mike has been discussing this for more than a year. He’s retiring on the date of his 27-year anniversary working for the Secret Service. He approached Acting Director [Ronald] Rowe about his retirement last month, before the DNC. He wasn’t asked to retire or resign, and anyone saying otherwise is lying," said Greg Henning, the spokesman for Plati.

Secret Service Official Encouraged to Retire After Trump Assassination Attempt

An agent who asked to remain anonymous was not happy about Plati's retirement. "Mike Plati is known for his integrity and honesty, qualities that are especially commendable at his level of leadership within the Secret Service," the agent told Fox News.

USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned under mounting pressure on July 23 following the assassination attempt on the former president, Fox News confirmed. The Department of Defense (DOD) has since offered the USSS "additional assistance" in protecting political figures that require personal security.

Secret Service Official Encouraged to Retire After Trump Assassination Attempt

Anthony Guglielmi, U.S. Secret Service chief of communications, announced last month that the DOD will provide "additional assistance including logistics, transportation, and communications, through the 2024 campaign season."

The retirement of Plati is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the USSS. In addition to Cheatle, several other top officials have left the agency in recent months, including the chief of staff and the head of the communications office.

The USSS is currently undergoing a major review of its security protocols in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt. The agency is also working to address a number of other challenges, including a shortage of personnel and a lack of funding.

Despite these challenges, the USSS remains committed to its mission of protecting the president, vice president, and other high-ranking government officials. The agency is also working to improve its coordination with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of the public.