A groundbreaking report by the House Assassination Task Force has disclosed a critical misstep during a recent attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The Secret Service agent involved failed to hit the assailant despite being only five feet away.

The report outlined numerous security lapses in two separate assassination attempts on the former President, critiquing the Secret Service's protocol, Mail Online reported.

The incident took place on September 15, 2024, at Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The assailant, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was approached by a Secret Service agent after Routh's gun was spotted protruding from a fence.

Details Emerge From House Assassination Task Force Report

In a tense situation, the Secret Service agent discharged at least six rounds at Routh who was alarmingly close. Despite the proximity, none of the shots successfully subdued the assailant, allowing him to escape the scene temporarily.

Following the event, it was revealed that Routh had been hiding out on the golf course for about 12 hours, a location he chose knowing Trump would be present. The site had not been adequately secured by the Secret Service, allowing Routh to prepare his attempt undetected.

Earlier Incident Highlights Additional Security Failures

The Secret Service had already faced a prior threat to Trump before Routh's attempt. Two months earlier, on July 13, 2024, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Thomas Matthew Crooks launched a fatal attack. Crooks inflicted casualties and wounded Trump before a counter-sniper neutralized him. The Task Force later labeled this incident preventable.

The report blamed the first attack on a series of flawed decisions that created an "ideal situation" for the assailant. These failures resulted in one death and two injuries, including a minor wound to Trump.

Secret Service Under Scrutiny in Congressional Meeting

The 180-page detailed report, recently released to the public, culminated in a heated congressional meeting featuring Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon. Amidst the discussion, Rowe confessed to the agency's "abject failure" in handling the security during the July attack.

During a fiery exchange, emotions ran high as participants acknowledged concerns about the adequacy of security measures at a remembrance event for 9/11 victims. Rep. Fallon criticized the security protocols and questioned why officials had failed to provide better protection for key figures like Trump, President Biden, and Vice President Harris.

Contention Over Security and Political Accusations

Rowe, drawing from his firsthand experience at Ground Zero post-9/11, defended his decisions vehemently against Fallon’s probing. The tension escalated when Fallon accused Rowe of using the 9/11 tragedy for political deflection, sparking further confrontations.

The Task Force engaged in comprehensive reviews for their conclusions, interviewing 46 people and reviewing over 18,000 pages of documents. Their findings have ignited a broad discussion about Secret Service protocol and effectiveness in protecting high-profile political figures.

Public and Political Reactions

Jesse Watters, a Fox News Host, expressed his disbelief at the failed attempts to neutralize Routh, particularly emphasizing the shock that a trained agent could miss at such close range. Watters also critiqued Routh's insanity defense as being too convenient, reflecting a sentiment of skepticism around the details of the case.

The investigations and their findings are a critical reflection on the need for improvements in the security measures surrounding former presidents and essential political figures, intending to prevent future incidents. This complex situation continues to unfold, with many awaiting further comments and decisions from the involved parties.