At Least 5 Secret Service Officials Put on Leave After Nearly 6 Weeks Since Trump Assassination Attempt – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
10:19 AM – Friday, August 23, 2024
At least five members of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Pittsburgh Field Office have reportedly been placed on administrative leave following the July 13th assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
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However, a separate group of USSS agents that were also specifically assigned to Trump’s detail remain operational, sources familiar with the matter told RealClear Politics.
Anthony Guglielmi, USSS chief of communications, told Fox News Digital in a statement that the agency’s personnel are held “to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action.”
The USSS did not directly announce the names or identities of the employees placed on leave, but Guglielemi added that given the “personal” nature of the matter, the agency is “not in a position to comment further.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler, Pennsylvania and the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump,” Guglielmi said. “The U.S. Secret Service’s mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure.”
Multiple sources told RealClear Politics that the decision to place Pittsburgh Field Office employees on leave versus the other agents assigned to the 45th president’s detail has created some internal speculation that the local office takes responsibility for the failure of the assassination attempt.
Since the incident, lawmakers have also called for the Secret Service to make personnel changes and to fire employees after the attempt on Trump’s life that resulted in the death of victim Corey Comperatore, as well as severe injuries for David Dutch and James Copenhaver.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle also resigned less than two weeks after the shooting and after she was forced to give a testimony before members of Congress about what took place on that day.
Meanwhile, police-worn body camera footage released on August 9th revealed the moments after gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire at the rally, with Butler law enforcement saying that Secret Service members were supposed to secure the structure that Crooks was perched on.
“I f—ing told them they need to post the f—ing guys over here … the Secret Service,” the officer says in the video. “I told them that f—ing Tuesday. I told them to f—ing post guys over here.”
Additionally, the congressional Trump Assassination Attempt Task Force will be in Butler on Monday to meet with local officials and to gather more information about the events that took place on that day.
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