The Secret Service admitted to “failures” and lack of diligence in the protection of former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. discussed the internal interim report that highlighted communication and operational failures leading up to the incident, including deficient command and control. The agency relied on local law enforcement to secure the building where the gunman was positioned, but the responsibility ultimately falls on the Secret Service.
Rowe acknowledged the threat environment is significant and plans to expand security perimeters around protectees. The agency is moving towards accountability and considering disciplinary measures for personnel involved in the incident. The Secret Service is under scrutiny after allowing a gunman to shoot at Trump in July and another incident at a Trump golf course in Florida.
In response to the incidents, the House passed a bill requiring the Secret Service to provide the same level of protection for presidential nominees as for the president and vice president. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Rowe emphasized the ongoing threat and the need for continued vigilance and deployment of tactical assets to protect political figures.
The agency is committed to learning from the failures and ensuring that another incident like this does not happen again. Personal accountability, additional resources, and comprehensive security measures are being implemented to better protect current and former political figures in the future.
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