Questions mount over security failures in Trump assassination attempt

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THERE’S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING GOING ON IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

FIVE DAYS LATER – AND QUESTIONS OF HOW THE SHOOTER -THOMAS CROOKS- GOT ONTO THE ROOF OF THE AGR BUILDING AND WAS DETECTED BY THE SECRET SERVICE 20 MINUTES BEFORE HE FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS – GRAZING TRUMP’S EAR AND STRIKING THREE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.

 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND FATHER, 50-YEAR-OLD COREY COMPERATORE, WAS KILLED SHIELDING HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER FROM THE GUNFIRE.

LAWMAKERS AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S RNC EVENTS COULD BE SEEN ON VIDEO PRESSING US SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR KIMBERLY CHEATLE FOR ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA’S TOWNSHIP MANAGER -TOM KNIGHTS- SPOKE WITH KDKA NEWS IN PITTSBURGH SAYING THE CITY TOLD THE SECRET SERVICE TWO DAYS BEFORE TRUMP’S RALLY THAT LOCAL POLICE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SECURE THE BUILDING:

(TOM KNIGHTS / BUTLER TOWNSHIP MANAGER)

“I WAS INDICATED WE DID NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT TASK ON AS WELL BASED ON THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON DUTY.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

HE SAYS THE SECRET SERVICE WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DID A “WALK AROUND” THE AGR BUILDING — TO ASSESS IT — IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE RALLY — AND THAT SEVERAL BUILDINGS NEAR THE SITE WERE IDENTIFIED AS “AREAS OF CONCERN.” 

US SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR CHEATLE HAS SAID SECRET SERVICE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ON THE ROOF OF THE AGR BUILDING – BUT THOSE PLANS CHANGED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS OF A “SLOPED” ROOF.

KNIGHTS ALSO CONFIRMED – THAT ONE TO TWO LOCAL SWAT AND SNIPER TEAM MEMBERS WERE STATIONED INSIDE THE AGR BUILDING DURING THE RALLY, WHILE CROOKS WAS ON THE ROOF.

IT’S ALSO BEEN REVEALED THAT TWO PITTSBURGH POLICE MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS – WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION FROM PROPER HIGHER UPS TO ASSIST WITH TRUMP’S MOTORCADE – WERE REMOVED FROM THE CYCLE UNIT FOLLOWING THE SHOOTING, ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM WPXI NEWS.

THAT DECISION SPARKED CONTROVERSY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THOSE OFFICERS WERE ALSO INJURED BY SHRAPNEL AND WERE SEEN ON VIDEO HELPING TWO WOUNDED VICTIMS IN THE CROWD.

 ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, SOURCES INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE OFFICERS DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER PERMISSION TO ASSIST WITH THE MOTORCADE.

SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR CHEATLE SPOKE WITH ABC NEWS EARLIER THIS WEEK SAYING THE SHOOTING NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED:

CHEATLE: “WHAT I WOULD SAY IS SECRET SERVICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT.”

REPORTER: “SO THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU?”

CHEATLE: “THE BUCK STOPS WITH ME. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRET SERVICE. IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S UNACCEPTABLE AND IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN AGAIN.”>

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CHEATLE IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF A HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON MONDAY.

MEANWHILE – THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION AS MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED.

FOR SAN, I’M LT…

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