The Senate erupted into chaos during a hearing as Republican senators questioned the handling of a lethal shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Butler, PA.
The Daily Mail reported that a chaotic Senate hearing ensued after a security breach at Donald Trump's rally in Butler, PA, led to a fatal shooting, with Senators grilling Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate on the failure to prevent the attack and the lack of accountability among the agents involved.
On July 13, Thomas Crooks fired eight rounds from an unsecured rooftop during Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooting resulted in the death of firefighter veteran Corey Comperatore and left two others critically injured, while Trump was grazed by a bullet in his ear.
This tragic event prompted the Senate to hold an unusual joint hearing with Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate. The hearing followed the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Senators were particularly critical of why Trump was allowed to take the stage despite Crooks being identified as suspicious 90 minutes before the shooting occurred.
Senator Josh Hawley repeatedly pressed Director Rowe over why no agents had been relieved of duty following the security breach. 'Has the person who decided, who made the decision to send Donald Trump on stage knowing that you had a security situation, has that person been relieved of duty?' asked Hawley.
Rowe responded, 'No sir they haven't,' which only fueled Hawley's frustration. The senator continued to question the decision-making process and accountability of those involved, emphasizing the severity of the oversight.
'What more do you need to investigate? To know exactly what you need to investigate to know the failures that something ought to be held accountable? What more do you need to know?' Hawley demanded, highlighting the importance of accountability in maintaining public trust.
New text messages and bodycam footage revealed that local law enforcement had been aware of Crooks' suspicious behavior over 90 minutes before the shooting. Despite these warnings, Trump was still permitted to proceed with his rally.
At 4:26 p.m., a sniper left the AGR building after spotting Crooks. Local law enforcement flagged him as suspicious at 5:38 p.m., a mere 30 minutes before Trump was shot.
Senator Chuck Grassley obtained these new messages, footage, and debriefs, which showed clear awareness of Crooks before the attack. Rowe admitted that the rooftop was not properly secured, expressing shame over the security failures.
In response to the tragic event, Rowe outlined changes implemented to prevent future security breaches. These changes included increased security oversight, expanded use of drone technology, and additional resources for protective site communications.
Reports emerged indicating that the Secret Service had previously opposed the use of drone technology to secure the rally site but had requested its deployment post-shooting. Local law enforcement had warned the Secret Service about the roof's vulnerability.
Senator Rand Paul pointed out the pre-existing vulnerabilities and personnel shortages that were flagged but not addressed by the Secret Service, emphasizing the negligence in securing the site.
Senator Ted Cruz questioned Rowe about the number of agents assigned to protect Trump compared to Joe Biden at similar events. 'Is it your testimony that in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump had the same number of agents protecting him that Joe Biden has at a comparable event?' Cruz asked.
Rowe attempted to explain the difference in protection levels between a sitting president and a former president. 'The difference is an actual authority to launch a nuclear strike,' said Rowe.
This response did little to alleviate tensions, as Cruz pressed on for more specific answers, highlighting the discrepancies in security measures between the two figures.
Rowe expressed personal regret and sleepless nights over the failure to secure the rooftop from which Crooks fired. 'I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots, and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed as a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service,' shared Rowe.
He admitted that he could not understand why the rooftop was not better secured, vowing to hold individuals accountable after a thorough and fair investigation.
Senator Dick Durbin raised concerns about Crooks' use of a golf rangefinder to calculate the distance to his target. Rowe acknowledged that this alone should have raised suspicion among agents on duty.
Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate provided insights into Crooks' motivations, mentioning a series of comments posted online from 2019 to 2020 that reflected extreme political views, including anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant themes.
Abbate's information suggested that these comments, if attributable to Crooks, indicated an intention to commit political violence.
The hearing highlighted the complexity and multifaceted nature of securing high-profile events, underscoring the need for reassessment and improvement of current protocols.
The Senate hearing conveyed a strong demand for accountability and changes within the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies involved.
Despite identifying Crooks as suspicious well before the shooting, the failure to act led to tragic consequences.
Director Rowe's commitment to ensuring a thorough investigation and implementing new security measures aims to prevent future incidents. However, the debate over adequate protection and decision-making processes continues to be a point of contention among lawmakers.
Ultimately, the hearing revealed significant gaps in security and communication that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of public figures and attendees at political events in the future.
