At least five Secret Service agents have been placed on modified duty following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter.
The agents under scrutiny include the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office and three other agents from the same office responsible for security planning ahead of the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One of the agents was part of Trump’s protective detail.
These agents are currently on administrative leave, preventing them from conducting any investigative or protective work as investigations into the security failure continue.
The attempted assassination at the rally revealed a significant lapse in the Secret Service’s core duties, resulting in the resignation of then-director Kim Cheatle. Despite prior warnings about a suspicious individual and identified vulnerabilities, the shooting still occurred.
Following Cheatle’s resignation, Ronald Rowe Jr. took over as the acting Secret Service Director, expressing his inability to defend the lack of security precautions taken on the day of the rally.
The investigation into the security breach continues as officials probe the critical lapses that allowed an individual to get close enough to harm the former president. While Trump was injured in the incident, he avoided serious harm, while tragic consequences befell others in attendance.
As investigations unfold and accountability is sought, it remains a stark reminder of the responsibilities and challenges faced by the Secret Service in protecting high-profile individuals.
Original Source: AP News
Contributed by Rebecca Santana for The Associated Press.
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