Pittsburgh Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Timothy Burke, along with four other agents, has been placed on administrative duties following a security lapse that allowed a gunman to open fire at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Burke and the agents are under investigation and are now on leave after Thomas Crooks was able to breach security and shoot at Trump, resulting in one death, multiple injuries, and significant concerns about the Secret Service's operational integrity, as the Daily Mail reports.

Burke, who has led the Secret Service’s Pittsburgh field office since 2016, was not present on the ground during the rally but had approved the agency's advance security measures. The event’s security plan, crafted under Burke’s supervision, is now under scrutiny as part of the ongoing probes. Despite not being directly on-site, Burke's role in the security arrangements has placed him at the center of the investigation.

Gunman Fires Multiple Shots, Causing Chaos at Trump Rally

Crooks infiltrated the security perimeter during Trump's rally and fired at least eight shots, leading to the death of one person, a grazing injury to Trump, and critical injuries to two others. Crooks, who was found to have stored multiple explosives in his car and home, managed to carry out the attack despite the advance preparations made by the Secret Service.

The severity of the incident has prompted multiple government agencies to launch investigations. These probes aim to determine the specific security lapses and the roles of the involved personnel. The U.S. Secret Service has come under fire for its handling of the situation, especially considering the high-profile nature of the event.

Resource Constraints and Whistleblower Allegations

Compounding the issue, a letter from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan highlighted that the Secret Service was operating with limited resources during the rally due to concurrent coverage of the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. This detail has raised questions about the adequacy of the security measures in place for the rally.

Whistleblowers have also come forward, claiming ongoing issues within the Secret Service that may have contributed to the breach. These allegations are now part of the broader investigation into the agency’s operational readiness and procedural adherence. Timothy Burke acknowledged the resource limitations during a briefing on July 8, just five days before the rally. However, these concerns did not lead to any significant changes in the security plan, which has now come under intense scrutiny.

Agents Placed on Administrative Duties as Probe Continues

MSNBC first reported that the agents were placed on administrative duties, although it did not initially name Burke. Later, NBC News clarified that these agents include four from the Pittsburgh field office and one who was directly involved with Trump's security at the rally.

Tristan Leavitt, a critic of the Secret Service’s response, pointed out that the agency's decision to place the agents on administrative duties came too late. "Here, all the USSS has done is place these employees on administrative duties, which it should at the very least have done on July 13," Leavitt stated, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Administrative duties, often referred to as "on the bricks" or "on the beach" by federal agents, mean that the individuals are still paid but are not allowed to perform their usual duties. This status differs from administrative leave, which would have removed the agents from duty entirely.

Secret Service Faces Scrutiny Over Procedural Failures

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that investigations into the procedural failures are ongoing. "We are still examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure," he said. The agency has emphasized its commitment to upholding the highest professional standards and indicated that any substantiated violations of policy will lead to disciplinary action.

The incident has also drawn the attention of lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Waltz, who has expressed skepticism about the federal investigation's findings. Waltz questioned how investigators could quickly determine that Crooks acted alone despite not fully understanding his motives or accessing his encrypted overseas accounts.

Concerns Over Potential International Involvement

Crooks’s possession of multiple foreign encrypted messaging accounts has further complicated the investigation. There are growing concerns that federal law enforcement may have prematurely concluded that Crooks acted alone, especially given the sophisticated nature of the attack.

Waltz also noted the difficulty of constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with remote detonators, particularly for someone of Crooks’s age and background. "I don't know of many 19-year-old kids who could make multiple IEDs with a remote detonator on their own," Waltz said, questioning why such activities had not been detected earlier.

The timing of Crooks’s attempt has raised additional suspicions, as it coincides with reports of an Iranian plot against Trump. This connection, along with the involvement of foreign encrypted accounts, has led to speculation about potential international involvement in the incident.

Further Arrest Highlights Ongoing Security Threats

The investigation into Crooks’s actions is further complicated by the arrest of another man, Ronald Syvrud, in Arizona for threatening Trump shortly before a separate rally. This arrest has underscored the ongoing security threats faced by Trump and the challenges confronting the Secret Service in addressing them.

As the investigation continues, the Secret Service is under increasing pressure to explain how such a significant security breach occurred and what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The agency’s handling of the situation, particularly the timing of its response, has drawn criticism from various quarters, including lawmakers and public figures.

Conclusion: A Security Breach with Far-Reaching Implications

The reassignment of Timothy Burke and four other Secret Service agents following the security failure at Trump’s rally highlights the severity of the breach and the ongoing challenges facing the agency.

As multiple probes continue, questions about resource allocation, procedural adherence, and potential international involvement remain at the forefront of the investigation.

The incident has exposed vulnerabilities within the Secret Service and raised concerns about the agency’s ability to protect high-profile figures in the future.