Security Failures Exposed in Attempted Trump Assassination

A significant lapse in security allowed 20-year-old Thomas Crooks to access a rooftop and fire at Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally. The Secret Service, responsible for Trump's safety, failed to secure the building, leading to criticism and an independent review ordered by President Joe Biden.

A major security breach occurred at a Pennsylvania rally where a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump from a rooftop outside the established perimeter, according to two former Secret Service officials.

The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, accessed the rooftop without resistance and fired at Trump, injuring three people, including grazing Trump’s ear. Former Secret Service agent Kenneth Valentine criticized the agency for failing to secure the risk-prone building and ensure surveillance of rooftops.

President Joe Biden has called for an independent review to understand how the shooter got so close to Trump, amid heavy security. The Secret Service and local police have faced intense scrutiny for this oversight as Congress looks into the failure.