A Pennsylvania SWAT team has disclosed significant communication failures with the Secret Service prior to an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This incident has brought to light serious concerns regarding the coordination of security efforts at high-profile events.
In an interview with ABC News, SWAT Team Officer Jason Woods shared that his team had no direct contact with the Secret Service agents assigned to the event’s security. “We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service snipers whenever they arrived, and that never happened,” Woods said. He noted that the lack of communication left his team uncertain about their role and responsibilities, which he believed compromised the security setup.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi declined to address Woods’ specific claims but assured that the agency is working to fully understand and address the security breaches that occurred. “We are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that never happens again,” Guglielmi stated, indicating cooperation with Congress, the FBI, and other investigations.
The assassination attempt involved 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired at Trump and injured his ear. Crooks was subsequently shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who has since resigned, admitted to several operational lapses during a Congressional hearing. She confirmed that the agency had been alerted multiple times about Crooks’ suspicious activities, including flying a drone near the rally site and using a rangefinder to measure distances.
Despite these warnings, Crooks managed to gain access to a rooftop near the stage with an AR-15-style rifle. Cheatle explained that agents were not placed on the rooftop due to its sloped design, raising questions about the adequacy of security measures.
The Secret Service initially pointed to local law enforcement for managing threats outside the secured zone. However, local officers reported that most of their personnel were assigned inside the security perimeter, which was already secured by fences, metal detectors, and Secret Service agents.
This communication breakdown has underscored the need for better coordination and clearer protocols between local SWAT teams and the Secret Service to ensure comprehensive security at high-risk events. The incident has sparked a call for reforms to prevent similar failures in the future.
