After the assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Trump, the Secret Service was widely criticized. An internal investigation has now confirmed serious errors: agents missed several opportunities to prevent the shooting of Trump.
According to the Secret Service, communication failures contributed to the first attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump in July. An internal investigation revealed various communication failures, including in exchanges with local forces, said the agency’s acting director, Ronald Rowe.
Some important information was not passed on through the usual communication channels and therefore did not reach everyone, he said. Emergency services were apparently using different frequencies. Problems were identified in advance but were not passed on to superiors and were not resolved.
“Resources Exhausted”
Rowe said that individual agents who had checked the site in advance had been negligent, which led to a breach of security regulations. “These employees will be held accountable.” He stressed that various technical and organizational changes had been initiated since the attack.
Since the attack, Trump has also been given the same protection as the incumbent president. Rowe also pointed out that the Secret Service is under particular pressure due to the election year and many other high-profile events. “We only have limited resources, and we are currently using those resources to the maximum.”
In mid-July, a gunman opened fire and shot Trump at a Republican Party campaign rally in the town of Butler in the state of Pennsylvania. One visitor to the rally died and two others were injured. Trump was wounded in the right ear. The perpetrator was killed by security forces.
Secret Service Under Criticism
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting high-ranking politicians – including the incumbent president, as well as former office holders or presidential candidates such as Trump.
After the assassination attempt on the Republican, there was much criticism of the Secret Service’s actions because, despite all security measures, the shooter was able to get to a nearby roof with a direct view of the stage. There were also indications that the young man had already attracted the attention of security officials with his behavior before Trump’s appearance, but the ex-president was still allowed to go on stage.
The then head of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, admitted a failure of service after the attack and later resigned. Rowe took over and said she was “ashamed” of the failures at the crime scene.
Second Attempted Attack Raises More Questions
Just a few days ago, there was another incident: The Secret Service shot an armed man who was hiding in the bushes at Trump’s golf course in Florida while the former president was playing there.
The suspect himself did not fire a bullet and fled, but was arrested and charged a short time later. Authorities believe that he also wanted to assassinate Trump.
The Future of Security Measures
In light of these events, former President Trump, as well as the Secret Service, will likely face increased scrutiny and pressure to implement more robust security measures. The findings of the internal investigation are expected to influence these changes drastically.
Key measures may include the following:
- Improved communication protocols among security personnel.
- Regular training sessions to ensure all agents understand updated security regulations.
- Enhanced threat assessment and intelligence-sharing capabilities between various law enforcement agencies.
- Utilization of advanced technology to monitor and secure event locations more effectively.
Lessons Learned from the Crisis
The immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt highlighted significant lapses in protocol and situational awareness. Lessons learned include:
- Constant vigilance is essential, especially during public appearances of high-profile figures.
- Pre-emptive measures must be taken seriously to identify potential threats.
- Effective use of communication technologies can drastically reduce response times in emergencies.
