Senators from both parties are expressing outrage following a security breakdown that led to an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

The incident, which left one dead and several others injured, has prompted a full investigation by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, focusing on the failures of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which some lawmakers say will shock the citizenry, as the New York Post reports.

The attack, carried out by Thomas Matthew Crooks, resulted in the death of rally-goer Corey Comperatore, while two other individuals, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were critically injured.  Trump himself sustained a minor injury but is recovering. The shooter was neutralized by a Secret Service counter-sniper after firing eight rounds at the rally.

Communication Failures Identified as Key Issue

According to early reports, Crooks had been flagged as suspicious nearly 90 minutes before the shooting began. Despite this, authorities failed to apprehend him, leading to significant criticism of communication lapses between various security entities. Several senators have voiced concerns over these failures and demanded answers from DHS officials.

“There is a lot that we don’t know yet, and I think there is some frustration that was voiced, I think with Acting Director Rowe,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). “To me, it’s still inexcusable that a guy for 90 minutes before a rally has a rangefinder and you don’t stop the proceeding.”

Explosives Found, Motive Remains Unclear

In addition to the shootings, Crooks had explosives in his vehicle, and authorities discovered a remote transmitter on his body. While no clear motive has been established, investigators revealed that Crooks had conducted over 60 online searches related to President Biden and former President Trump. He had also posted messages on Discord and potentially on Gab, some of which reportedly expressed support for President Biden.

Despite this online activity, FBI Pittsburgh Field Office Special Agent Kevin Rojek stated, “We have not uncovered any credible evidence indicating the subject conspired with anyone else.”

Senators Frustrated by DHS Response

Many lawmakers are particularly concerned with what they view as a lack of transparency from the Department of Homeland Security. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) emphasized the need for DHS to be more forthcoming with information related to the assassination attempt.

“I think the American people will be shocked, astonished, and appalled by what we will report to them about the failures of the Secret Service in this assassination attempt of a former president,” Blumenthal said. He went on to criticize DHS for its lack of candor, adding, “But I think they also ought to be appalled and astonished by the failure of the Department of Homeland Security to be more forthcoming.”

Errors in Protocol Highlighted

Members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee have indicated that the upcoming interim report will shed light on specific errors that led to the security breakdown. According to Ranking Member Rand Paul (R-KY), the report “is going to identify very specific errors that were made in this.” He further added, “People need to be held responsible.”

Paul recounted key moments that highlighted these errors, particularly when the shooter was observed on a roof before the rally began. "At 6:08 [p.m.], man on a roof, should’ve stopped him," he said, emphasizing that the security protocols should have been followed. He also noted that the communication breakdown was worsened by poor use of technology: "They say the walkie-talkies didn’t communicate with each other."

Investigations to Continue Ahead of Congressional Recess

Multiple investigations are now underway, including those by the Senate Homeland Committee, the FBI, the DHS, a House select task force, and the DHS Office of the Inspector General. With an interim report expected before the congressional pre-election recess in September, lawmakers hope that it will provide clarity on what went wrong.

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) echoed concerns over the communication failures, stating that the shooter had been spotted but this information was not adequately shared. "Different entities were seeing the shooter, were seeing them with the rangefinder, were seeing someone on the roof that people were calling in to local law enforcement," Waltz said. However, this was not relayed over the common radio network, contributing to the security breakdown.

Calls for Accountability and Reform

Senators from both sides of the aisle have called for accountability in the wake of the attempted assassination. Blumenthal insisted that without proper accountability, similar failures could happen again. “There needs to be that sense that someone is the point person,” he said. “Without accountability, this kind of failure and lapse will happen again.”

While acknowledging the difficulty of law enforcement’s job, Paul expressed his belief that those in charge of security on July 13 should not be allowed to continue in their roles. "I think the people in charge of security that day shouldn’t be doing it again," he stated bluntly.

Senators Await Report on Security Failures

The interim report expected before the end of September is anticipated to provide detailed insights into the breakdown in security and communication that led to the deadly incident. Lawmakers continue to press for more information from DHS as they attempt to uncover the full extent of the security failures.

As investigations continue, senators hope that the findings will lead to meaningful changes in protocol to prevent future attacks and ensure accountability within federal security agencies.

Conclusion

In summary, senators are demanding answers after a shocking security failure during a Trump rally led to an assassination attempt on the former president.

With one death, several injuries, and multiple investigations now underway, the pressure is mounting on the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to explain how the attack could have occurred and to ensure accountability for those responsible.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are awaiting an interim report expected before the congressional recess, which is set to provide crucial details on the errors that took place on July 13.