Donald Trump has dodged two assassination attempts so far. But is the Secret Service in position to thwart another?
And a major Secret Service failure has been exposed according to this latest bombshell report.
Secret Service Under Fire: Senate Report Exposes Critical Failures at Trump Rally
A blistering new Senate report, released on the one-year anniversary of the July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has exposed a cascade of U.S. Secret Service missteps that allowed a gunman to fire eight shots at former President Donald Trump. At the center of the storm is an agent who failed to act on a warning about the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, 25 minutes before the attack unfolded.
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s investigation revealed a troubling breakdown in communication and accountability. A Pennsylvania State Police officer informed a Secret Service security room agent about Crooks, a suspicious individual, well before the shooting. Yet, the agent—whose name remains undisclosed—did not pass this critical information to colleagues securing the event.
“I got a distinct impression that there’s, like, a lack of urgency,” the officer told the committee, describing the agent’s response. Later, the officer returned to report that Crooks was spotted on a rooftop, but the agent again failed to share this update.
When pressed, the agent gave a conflicting account, claiming he was never told about anyone on the roof. He also admitted to having no further contact with local law enforcement that day and had not reviewed the local officials’ operations plan.
The report points to this incident as a stark example of the communication failures that defined the day. “The lack of structured communication was likely the greatest contributor to the failures of the USSS on July 13, 2024,” it stated, noting the security room agent’s role as “the conduit of communications between all entities involved in a protective site in order to ensure situational awareness of all parties involved in securing the event.”
Agent Escapes Accountability
Astonishingly, the agent faced no repercussions. The report found he was never told he violated policy, received no discipline, and was allowed to retire quietly in June 2025.
In contrast, only six agents were disciplined, with suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days. The heaviest penalty fell on Myosoty Perez, a junior agent with three years of experience, according to the report and the agents’ legal team.
Lawmakers Demand Justice
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the committee chair, slammed the lack of accountability. “Despite those failures, no one has been fired,” Paul stated.
“And we only know what little discipline was handed out because I issued a subpoena. That’s unacceptable.”
The report branded the Secret Service’s lapses as “multiple, unacceptable failures” and called the limited disciplinary actions inadequate.
“What happened was inexcusable and the consequences imposed for the failures so far do not reflect the severity of the situation,” it said, pressing for stronger measures against those responsible.
This Senate report joins others in exposing the Secret Service’s shortcomings at the rally. The agency recently announced reforms to prevent future failures, but the findings raise urgent questions about whether these changes will address the deep-seated issues laid bare in Butler.
As the fallout continues, the report serves as a reminder of the need for robust coordination and accountability to protect presidents at high-risk events.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
