Secret Service agents suspended amid Trump shooting investigation

Lauren Taylor

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-S SECRET SERVICE HAVE BEEN PLACED ON LEAVE FOLLOWING LAST MONTH’S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

ABC NEWS REPORTS THIS INVOLVES AT LEAST FIVE SECRET SERVICE OFFICIALS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF PROTECTION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT THAT DAY. 

SOURCES SAY THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION IS EXPANDING TO FOCUS ON SEVERAL CRITICAL AREAS, INCLUDING THE SECRET SERVICE’S RESPONSE TO A CLASSIFIED THREAT AGAINST TRUMP, THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED IN THE SECURITY PLANNING.

IN A STATEMENT, THE SECRET SERVICE REITERATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY SAYING THEY ARE “EXAMINING THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURES, AND FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS OPERATIONAL FAILURE.” 

THE SECRET SERVICE ISN’T THE ONLY AGENCY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, AS LAWMAKERS ARE DETERMINED TO FIGURE OUT HOW A 20-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN GAINED SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

CNN REPORTS THOSE SECRET SERVICE OFFICIALS PLACED ON LEAVE HAVE BEEN REASSIGNED TO WORK FROM HOME WHILE THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. IT’S NOT YET CLEAR IF THEIR REMOVAL IS DISCIPLINARY, BUT THE AGENCY’S INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. THE SECRET SERVICE IS ALSO CONDUCTING A BROADER, “MISSION ASSURANCE REVIEW,” WHICH INCLUDES REASSESSING SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR FUTURE EVENTS. 

TRUMP RECENTLY RESUMED OUTDOOR RALLIES, WITH SIGNIFICANTLY RAMPED-UP SECURITY MEASURES SUCH AS THE CHANGE IN HIS PODIUM, SURROUNDED BY BULLETPROOF GLASS. 

BOTH THE INTERNAL AND CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT IN THE COMING WEEKS. THE ACTING DIRECTOR HAS VOWED TO ENSURE THAT ANY MISTAKE MADE BY THE SECRET SERVICE WILL BE CORRECTED MOVING FORWARD.

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