The US Secret Service has placed at least five agents on leave, including the head of its Pittsburgh field office, following an investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last month, Fox News reported.
Nearly six weeks after the incident, one member of Trump’s personal protective team and four agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office, including the special agent in charge, have been placed on administrative leave.
The Secret Service is investigating the significant security lapse that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to fire multiple shots from a nearby building.
Less than two weeks after the shooting and providing her initial testimony to Congress, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position.
The Secret Service confirmed that multiple shots were fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue, resulting in the death of one spectator and critical injuries to two others. The shooter was also killed, though further details remain undisclosed.
FBI officials disclosed on Monday that Crooks had accessed the roof of the AGR building by climbing HVAC equipment and piping. From there, he moved across rooftops before positioning himself with a clear line of sight to the former president. On the day of the rally, Crooks had also flown a drone near the event site.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks had been present at the rally site for approximately 70 minutes before the attack.
During the attack, Trump, 78, was shot in the ear, with blood streaming down his face. Despite the chaos, he was quickly surrounded by his security team and later emerged to rally supporters, pumping his fist and shouting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
This shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, where Trump is scheduled to face Democratic candidate Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
Nearly six weeks after the incident, one member of Trump’s personal protective team and four agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office, including the special agent in charge, have been placed on administrative leave.
The Secret Service is investigating the significant security lapse that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to fire multiple shots from a nearby building.
Less than two weeks after the shooting and providing her initial testimony to Congress, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned from her position.
The Secret Service confirmed that multiple shots were fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue, resulting in the death of one spectator and critical injuries to two others. The shooter was also killed, though further details remain undisclosed.
FBI officials disclosed on Monday that Crooks had accessed the roof of the AGR building by climbing HVAC equipment and piping. From there, he moved across rooftops before positioning himself with a clear line of sight to the former president. On the day of the rally, Crooks had also flown a drone near the event site.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks had been present at the rally site for approximately 70 minutes before the attack.
During the attack, Trump, 78, was shot in the ear, with blood streaming down his face. Despite the chaos, he was quickly surrounded by his security team and later emerged to rally supporters, pumping his fist and shouting, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
This shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, where Trump is scheduled to face Democratic candidate Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.