BUTLER, Pa. – Experts assert that ineffective communication between local and federal law enforcement played a key role in the security breakdown that enabled the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
More than 90 minutes after authorities spotted the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old evaded capture and ascended to a rooftop, gaining a clear line of sight to the former president. He opened fire at the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania, hitting Trump in the ear, killing one audience member, and critically injuring two others.
Text messages indicated that local law enforcement officers were exchanging information regarding Crooks before the attack. However, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testified at a Senate oversight hearing that this critical information was not passed from local to federal agencies.
“On the surface, it appears to be a significant communications failure,” remarked Michael Verden, a former Secret Service agent and the founder of the Lake Forest Group, a security firm, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Having coordinated communication is vital during these events with presidents.”
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Images of Thomas Mathew Crooks captured by a sniper. (Sen. Ron Johnson’s Office)
The communication lapse surfaced when text messages showed that local authorities had identified Crooks as a suspicious individual 90 minutes before the shooting. Despite elevating concerns to command, the would-be assassin escaped notice.
“It’s essential for anyone with authority at that rally to be able to communicate,” Verden stated. “There should have been direct communication between Butler County and the Secret Service.”
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“They lacked what we refer to as a joint command center,” Verden explained. “A location where state, local, and federal officials could collaborate and share real-time insights from the ground.”
All roads lead back to communication.
“All roads lead back to communication,” he summarized.
Bodycam footage from local law enforcement captures the chaos among agencies following the assassination attempt on former President Trump on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (US Secret Service)
Verden expressed astonishment that no one approached Crooks, who was positioned by the American Glass Research building prior to the attack. He noted that the Secret Service has a dedicated division for “this precise situation.”
“We employ protective intelligence teams, which typically consist of a Secret Service agent working alongside a local officer,” he explained.
“Their purpose is to approach any individuals deemed suspicious,” he continued.
“I have confidence there were protective intelligence teams on site to assist the personnel present,” he stated. “If not, that would signify a major oversight.”
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Law enforcement officers reportedly stand over the body of would-be Trump assassin, Thomas Crooks, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Todd the Driller)
Charles Marino, a former supervisory special agent with the Secret Service and current senior advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, remarked to Fox News Digital that the events of July 13 showcased “both the agency’s flaws and strengths.”
“A substantial failure in security planning and execution occurred leading up to and during this day, revealing further faults in communication, coordination, and the agency’s limited resource challenges,” he stated.
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Marino noted that the courageous actions of agents during the immediate aftermath of the shooting underscore why the Secret Service deserves to be “reformed.”
“While the incident in Butler represents one of the agency’s worst scenarios, the finest qualities of the Secret Service were brought to bear as the last line of defense when advance preparations fell short,” he said.
“The selfless bravery and quick thinking of Secret Service agents who instinctively rushed to shield former President Trump during the gunfire, as well as the skill shown by counter-snipers, exemplify the dedication to their mission and the safety of the people and country they protect.”
