A US Senate report released on Sunday accused the Secret Service of “inexcusable” failures in its operations and response to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally last year. The report faulted the presidential protection service for a pattern of negligence and communications breakdowns in planning and executing the rally.
According to the report, the Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence and failed to coordinate with local law enforcement, leading to a “cascade of preventable failures that nearly cost President Trump his life”. The committee’s Republican chairman, Rand Paul, said, “Despite those failures, no one has been fired.” He added that it was a “complete breakdown of security at every level – fuelled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats”.
The report highlighted that the Secret Service identified communications, technical and human errors and said reforms were underway, including improving coordination between different law enforcement bodies involved in security at events and establishing a division dedicated to aerial surveillance. Six unidentified staff have been disciplined, with punishments ranging from 10 to 42 days of suspension without pay, and all six were put into restricted or nonoperational positions.
Senator Rand Paul emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again.” Current Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency has received the report and will continue to cooperate with the committee, adding that the agency has implemented substantive reforms to address the failures.
On the anniversary of the assassination attempt, Trump said “mistakes were made” but he was satisfied with the investigation. He also told reporters, “God was protecting me,” adding that he did not like to think “too much” about the assassination attempt. “It’s a little bit of a dangerous profession being president, but I really don’t like to think about it too much,” he said.
The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, when a gunman shot Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing his ear. One bystander was killed, and two people, in addition to Trump, were wounded before a government sniper killed the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks.