The US Secret Service is facing intense criticism and scrutiny after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Experts are questioning how the shooter was able to go unnoticed on the factory roof from where he fired shots at Trump.
It is being investigated whether there was a failure in communication between the Secret Service and the local police responsible for controlling the area adjacent to the security zone. President Joe Biden has ordered an independent investigation into the incident, and several Republicans in the House of Representatives are planning hearings.
The attack marks a security failure, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Secret Service has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Changes will be made to reinforce security measures for Trump's appearances at future events, including the Republican Party convention in Wisconsin. Questions are raised about the Secret Service's response time and their ability to eliminate lines of sight.
There are concerns about the evacuation process and the exposure of Trump during the incident. The investigation will seek to understand what went wrong and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Secret Service relies on collaboration with local law enforcement, and the variation in training and professionalism among different agencies may have contributed to the security breach. The agency is facing pressure to explain why the building used by the gunman was outside its security perimeter.
The Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, has taken responsibility for the incident but refused to resign, emphasizing that the focus is on people's safety. The Secret Service's cooperation in the investigation is crucial, and President Biden's review of security measures will further shed light on the incident.
