The U.S. Secret Service has placed several agents on administrative leave following the July 13 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot Trump in the ear, fatally wounded a firefighter, and injured two others before being apprehended. The incident has since raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of Trump’s security detail and the Secret Service’s ability to respond to such high-level threats.
Reports from RealClearPolitics indicate that the agents placed on leave were part of the Pittsburgh Field Office, responsible for coordinating security at the event. However, sources say agents directly involved in Trump’s permanent protective detail—who also played a significant role in planning the event—remain on duty. This discrepancy in accountability has fueled frustration within the agency, with some insiders arguing that senior leadership in Washington shares the blame for the security failures.
Acting Secret Service Director Ron Rowe has come under particular scrutiny following the resignation of former Director Kimberly Cheatle. Critics argue that Cheatle and other top officials denied crucial resources for the event, contributing to the gaps in security that allowed Crooks to get within shooting range. Cheatle’s justification that the building’s roof was too steep for countersnipers has been widely ridiculed and highlighted the agency’s failures.
The investigation has uncovered broader issues within the agency, including resource mismanagement and an emphasis on cost-cutting over security. As more details emerge, the Secret Service is facing increasing pressure to address the systemic problems that contributed to this near-tragedy.
