On Monday, a group of lawmakers embarked on a fact-finding mission to Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The legislators, including 70-year-old Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), a former SWAT member, visited the rooftop from which the assailant had fired at Trump and his supporters. Their visit to the site dismantled the explanation provided by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle for not deploying agents on the roof, which offered a clear view of Trump's stage.
According to RedState, Cheatle had previously justified the absence of agents on the roof by citing safety concerns due to its sloped nature. That building, in particular, has a sloped roof. There's a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof, Cheatle had stated. She further explained that the decision was made to secure the building from the inside.
However, this reasoning was met with skepticism, especially when images emerged showing Secret Service snipers positioned on a roof that appeared to have a steeper slope. The lawmakers' visit to the roof further undermined Cheatle's argument, as they navigated the rooftop without any apparent difficulty.
Rep. Gimenez, who managed to walk on the roof without any issues, expressed his disbelief at the Secret Service's oversight. I can tell you that, just looking at the site, immediately there are things that just hit you, and the fact that those things werent covered is unacceptable, completely unacceptable, he told reporters. I was on that roof, the roof that the director said was really, really dangerous for Secret Service and other personnel to be on. Im 70 years old. Theres nothing unsafe about that.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) echoed Gimenez's sentiments, highlighting the proximity of the roof to the stage where Trump had been. He questioned why there were no counter-snipers on a nearby water tower. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), a former Navy SEAL sniper, also voiced his concerns about the apparent lapse in security measures, stating, "It was clear to me that many security measures were dropped making Pres. Trump extremely vulnerable. Many questions still remain."
Adding to the perplexity, a video taken by Crane from a window overlooking the entire roof showed that the Secret Service had complete coverage of the area. This raised further questions about how the shooter managed to access the roof and fire several shots without being detected.
The lawmakers' visit also brought to light other concerning revelations. Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) discovered that local authorities were not included in the Secret Service command posts for the July 13 rally, a departure from standard practice at similar events. Normally, the local law enforcement guys are allowed to sit in the Secret Service control room, Green said. Today, the locals shared with us that they were not allowed to have anybody in there. So, that makes you want to dig a little further, right?
The lawmakers' visit to the site and their subsequent findings have cast a shadow of doubt over Cheatle's explanation for the security lapse. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) questioned Cheatle's motives during a House Oversight Committee grilling, asking, "What are you covering up? What are you hiding?"
The lawmakers' findings have raised serious questions about the security measures in place during the rally and the subsequent assassination attempt on Trump. As the investigation continues, it is clear that there are still many unanswered questions that need to be addressed. The lawmakers' visit has not only debunked Cheatle's safety concerns but has also highlighted the need for a thorough review of the security protocols in place during such high-profile events.
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