WASHINGTON — A bipartisan House task force has concluded that the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July was “preventable and should not have happened,” citing major security breakdowns. The report, released on Monday, highlights “stunning security failures” at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally where Trump was shot in the ear, one rallygoer was killed, and two others were injured.
The report criticizes law enforcement and the Secret Service for a lack of coordination and communication. The House panel specifically pointed out “fragmented lines of communication and unclear chains of command” between the Secret Service, Pennsylvania state police, and local authorities. These gaps in communication allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman, to climb onto an unsecured rooftop and open fire on the crowd.
Despite previous warnings, the building where the rally took place was left inadequately protected. Lawmakers argued that federal, state, and local officers missed several opportunities to apprehend Crooks, whose suspicious behavior had been noted throughout the day.
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers could have engaged Thomas Matthew Crooks at several pivotal moments,” the report stated. “The tragic and shocking events of July 13 were preventable and should not have happened.”
The findings are based on thousands of pages of documents and interviews with law enforcement officials, including classified briefings from the FBI and Secret Service. While the report does not name individuals directly responsible for the lapse, the Associated Press has previously reported that five Secret Service agents have been placed on modified duty. Additionally, Kimberly Cheatle, who was the Secret Service director at the time of the shooting, resigned shortly after the incident, taking full responsibility for the security breach.
The task force—comprising seven Republicans and six Democrats—showcased their preliminary findings during a public hearing last month. A final report, which will include recommendations to prevent future assassination attempts on political candidates, is expected by mid-December.
The panel is also investigating a second assassination attempt on Trump in Florida last month, where a man armed with a rifle camped outside one of Trump’s golf courses.
The investigation underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting high-profile political figures during public events, and the urgent need for improved security protocols to prevent future incidents.
