An official confirmed that the Secret Service issued a suspension for six people last year at a Donald Trump rally, during which the Gunners tried to assassinate Republicans.
Matt Quinn, deputy director of the service, told BBC’s U.S. partner CBS News that at a party in Butler, Pennsylvania, it was a “operational failure” when Matthew Crooks shot Trump and killed another attendee.
A bullet from Crooks flew through Trump’s ears, and Trump was then sent to safety. The attacker was shot.
It is not clear when the staff suspension will be officially issued, and US media reports vary in whether they have already served.
Quinn said in a speech from CBS that staff were fined 10 to 42 days without pay or benefits.
“The Secret Service is totally responsible for Butler,” he explained. “Butler is an operational failure and we are focusing today on making sure it never happens.”
Quinn, who was appointed to his role in May this year, added that he “focused on solving the root causes of the problem”, but his organization would not “fire our way out.”
Quinn told CBS that many improvements have been made, involving military-grade drones and improved mobile command posts, and the pillars can now be used by agents in the field.
The identity and role of the suspended person were not disclosed on the day of the attack.
The news comes a few days before the attack anniversary on July 13, 2024. Rally attendee Corey Compperatore was killed and two others were injured.
The incident prompted Kimberly, the department’s then director, to resign.
The Secret Service has been under rigorous scrutiny over the past 12 months and faces severe criticism from U.S. Congressmen.
Last September, a 94-page Senate report found that security failures and lack of communication within the U.S. Secret Service “directly contributed” the incident, and two months later, many problems remained unresolved.
The attack was also described as another preventable report, published by the House Task Force in December. The paper identified the main mistake as being unable to protect the roof where the fraudster opened fire.
Trump was successfully re-elected in November, receiving enhanced security following the attacks – ensuring he received higher levels of protection than typical for presidential candidates.
In September, lurking among the bushes at Trump Golf Course in Florida, he was once again taken to safety by Secret Service agents. The FBI also described it as an obvious assassination attempt.
The suspect in the second incident was detained.
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