Trump Security Details Revealed, Massive Issue Uncovered
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has raised concerns about the quality of the Secret Service personnel assigned to the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally where former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt.
"Whistleblowers tell me that MOST of Trump’s security detail working the event last Saturday were not even Secret Service," Hawley posted on X on Friday.
"DHS assigned unprepared and inexperienced personnel," he added.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Hawley elaborated on his claims and sought clarification.
"Whistleblowers who have direct knowledge of the event have approached my office. According to the allegations, the July 13 rally was considered to be a 'loose' security event," Hawley stated.
"For example, detection canines were not used to monitor entry and detect threats in the usual manner. Individuals without proper designations were able to gain access to backstage areas," he continued.
"Department personnel did not appropriately police the security buffer around the podium and were also not stationed at regular intervals around the event’s security perimeter," the senator noted.
Hawley suggested there was a deeper issue with the security arrangements.
"In addition, whistleblower allegations suggest the majority of DHS officials were not in fact USSS agents but instead drawn from the department’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)," he wrote. "This is especially concerning given that HSI agents were unfamiliar with standard protocols typically used at these types of events, according to the allegations."
The senator criticized Mayorkas for not being transparent with Congress.
"Unfortunately, your department has not been appropriately forthcoming with Members of Congress — abruptly ending the only call with USSS before most senators could even ask a question. This is completely unacceptable and contrary to the public’s interest in transparency.
"Instead, we have learned more from whistleblowers than your department’s officials."
Hawley then posed several questions regarding the use of state and local police, the number of non-Secret Service security personnel, and the specific preparations to protect Trump at the rally.
"This incident represents a staggering security failure by the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to appropriately protect the former president and prevent violence at a peaceful political event," Hawley said in a news release on Wednesday.
"A host of critical questions remain unanswered, and it is vital that the American people know the truth as soon as possible," he emphasized.
On Monday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee, according to ABC News.
"The Secret Service is fully accountable for the safety of its protectees," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Gugliemi said. "We are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure it never happens again.
"That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI, and other relevant investigations."