Whistleblowers: Secret Service had “limited resources” to deal with security threats during Trump rally

07/22/2024 / By Kevin Hughes

Whistleblowers informed Congress that the United States Secret Service was dealing with “limited resources” ahead of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

This is according to House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), as part of an ongoing congressional investigation looking into lapses in Trump’s security detail.

The attempted assassination of Trump left two people, including the gunman, dead. Spectator Corey Comperatore, 50, a former fire chief, died after shielding his family from the gunfire while two people were seriously injured.

Jordan on Thursday, July 18, wrote in a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray that he had received information from “whistleblowers” who have come forward to disclose information about security at Trump’s July 13 campaign rally during which a gunman attempted to assassinate the Republican Party presidential candidate.

Jordan’s letter cited a July 8 briefing in which a Secret Service agent allegedly told law enforcement partners that the agency was facing “limited resources” as its teams were spread out across notable events such as Trump’s Butler rally and another event for First Lady Jill Biden, along with the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, D.C.

Jordan’s allegations did not point out whether limited resources had any effect on personnel or plans prior to Trump’s rally.

FBI aware that Secret Service had limited resources during Trump rally

The whistleblowers also informed Congress that the FBI was aware that the Secret Service had limited resources to cover the campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, because it was stretched thin.

“Whistleblowers have disclosed to the Committee that the USSS [United States Secret Service] led two briefings regarding the July 13 campaign rally on July 8, 2024, with the Western Pennsylvania Fusion Center (WPFC) and other stakeholders, to discuss the upcoming, unrelated visits by President Trump and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden,” Jordan wrote to Wray in a letter dated Monday, July 15.

Jordan continued by providing several questions he said Wray should be prepared to answer in his upcoming July 24 testimony before the House committee.

He noted that during the briefings with the WPFC, Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Tim Burke allegedly told law enforcement partners that the Secret Service had limited resources that week due to the agency covering the NATO summit.

Jordan asked Wray, “Was the security posture at President Trump’s event limited due to resource constraints with the NATO Summit and/or First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s event in Pittsburgh?”

Based on a White House media advisory, Biden was scheduled to arrive at the Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 4 p.m. and then at 5 p.m. was expected to give a speech at an Italian Sons and Daughters of America dinner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Trump was scheduled to start speaking at 5 p.m., but the former president ended up taking the stage at 6:02 p.m. Around nine minutes later, the 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire at Trump, wounding him in the right ear. (Related: Trump shot in the ear, survives assassination attempt as questions emerge about Secret Service and local police.)

Jordan said while the FBI is one of several agencies represented in the WPFC, it is the lead federal investigative arm and a major source of intelligence on possible threats for special events in its area of responsibility. He mentioned that the FBI is also investigating the assassination attempt.

Considering those roles, Jordan – whose committee carries out oversight of the FBI – is requesting answers from the agency, after the almost-successful attempt that nearly killed Trump, killed an innocent rally-goer and injured two other rally-goers.

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Watch the video below about House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan reacting to Secret Service failures during the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.