Senators ‘appalled’ by DHS ahead of report on Trump assassination attempt

Senators from both sides of the aisle shared thoughts on an upcoming report about the security failures that led to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. They met with acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on Thursday, Sept. 12, for a closed-door briefing. 

After leaving the meeting, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said, “I think the American people will be shocked, astonished and appalled by what we will report to them about the failures of the Secret Service in this assassination attempt of a former president.”

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He added, “But I think they also ought to be appalled and astonished by the failure of the Department of Homeland Security to be more forthcoming, to be as candid and frank as it should be to them in terms of providing information.”

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said the lawmakers in attendance expressed “frustration” with Rowe at the briefing. 

“There is a lot we don’t know yet, and I think there is some frustration that was voiced, I think, with Acting Director Rowe,” Johnson said. “He’s making the commitment to provide more information.”

Committee Ranking Member Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., added, “It’s going to identify very specific errors that were made in this.” He went on to say, “It’s still inexcusable that a guy for 90 minutes before a rally has a rangefinder and you don’t stop the proceeding.”

Law enforcement identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as a “suspicious” attendee at the Trump event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, an hour and a half before he climbed on top of a building and took aim.

Crooks fired eight rounds, hitting Trump in the right ear, killing rally-attendee Corey Comperatore, and critically injuring David Dutch and James Copenhaver. A Secret Service counter-sniper shot and killed Crooks.

The lawmakers who attended the briefing Thursday said there had not been enough accountability within the Secret Service. They also stressed the investigation has been and the report will be entirely bipartisan. It’s expected to be released before Congress breaks for its pre-election recess at the end of September.