Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

Exclusive details have emerged regarding the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealing a shocking lapse in security. According to a timeline and text messages obtained by Fox News Digital, local law enforcement officers were in position hours before the attack, but failed to identify the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was actively scoping out the rally site.

On July 13, 2024, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Trump fatally shot one of his supporters at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Disturbing details have now surfaced, revealing a series of security failures that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to successfully carry out his sinister plan.

Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

A timeline and text messages obtained by Fox News Digital from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, paint a chilling picture of the events leading up to the attack. Local law enforcement officers were in their designated positions as early as 10:15 a.m., while snipers were in place by 10:30 a.m. However, the suspect, Crooks, was also actively surveying the scene at the time.

The FBI previously revealed that Crooks had arrived at the rally site at 11 a.m. on July 13 and spent an hour there before leaving. He returned at 3:50 p.m., and local law enforcement spotted him for the first time around 5:10 p.m. — approximately 50 minutes before Trump took the stage.

Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

During his second visit to the rally site, Crooks flew a drone about 200 yards away from Trump's designated speaking location. The FBI later confirmed that no photos or videos were captured by the drone and that no memory card was found on it.

At 5:30 p.m., local law enforcement photographed Crooks and escalated it to command. Text messages show that an officer reported seeing the suspect "learning around the building" and using a range finder to observe the stage. The officer requested that Secret Service snipers be notified.

Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

Despite being alerted to Crooks' suspicious behavior, law enforcement lost sight of him. By 6:12 p.m., he opened fire on the rallygoers, fatally shooting Corey Comperatore. Trump was grazed by a bullet on his ear, while two other attendees, James Copenhaver and David Dutch, were also injured.

The shocking lapses in security have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the security measures in place at the rally. Despite the presence of law enforcement officers and snipers, Crooks was able to freely move around, observe the stage, and prepare for his attack.

Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

Sen. Grassley has called for a thorough investigation into the security breaches and has urged the FBI to release all relevant information to the public. Law enforcement officials have defended their actions, claiming that they were not aware of Crooks' specific intentions and that he was not carrying a weapon at the time of his initial observation.

The attempted assassination of former President Trump has exposed serious vulnerabilities in the security protocols for high-profile events. The failure to identify and apprehend Crooks before he opened fire is a matter of grave concern and demands swift action to prevent future tragedies.

Uncovered: New Details on Trump Rally Security Breach

The victims and their families deserve justice, and the American public must have confidence in the ability of law enforcement to protect our elected officials and the public from harm. The investigation into this security breach must leave no stone unturned and must result in concrete measures to strengthen security for future events.