The Secret Service released a report detailing the security lapses that led to an assassination attempt on ex-President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The local police forces responsible for securing the area where the shooter positioned himself had not coordinated with the Secret Service prior to the incident. This lack of communication and planning allowed the shooter, Thomas Crooks, to fire on Trump, killing one person and injuring two others. The report also highlighted errors such as the lack of coordination between different local police entities and the Secret Service, leading to confusion about who was responsible for securing the roof where the shooter was located. Several Secret Service officials, including the director of the Pittsburgh Field Office, were placed on leave as a result of the incident. The report recommended leadership changes and highlighted the agency’s high operational tempo as a contributing factor to the security breach. The Acting Secret Service Director, Ronald Rowe, stressed the need to learn from the mistakes of July 13 to prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, he mentioned that security for presidential candidates will be increased to match that of sitting presidents. Despite the security failures, Rowe praised the agent who successfully defended Trump from a potential assassin on a golf course in Florida, stating that the agent acted in accordance with his training.
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