Secret Service faces scrutiny after attempted assassination of former President Trump at Pennsylvania rally

The Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny after former US President Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump, who is now recovering, reported being shot in the ear while addressing a crowd at a fairground in Butler.

The incident resulted in the death of one bystander and left two others critically injured, according to a Secret Service spokesperson.

Kimberly Cheatle, the Director of the Secret Service, has been called to testify before the US House Oversight Committee on July 22.

The committee, the main investigative body of the US House of Representatives, is demanding answers about the incident.

FBI special agent Kevin Rojek expressed surprise that the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to open fire before being killed by the Secret Service.

An investigation involving the FBI, Secret Service, and Department of Homeland Security is underway.

Trump, who was swiftly taken off stage after the shooting began, wrote on his Truth Social network that a bullet pierced the “upper part” of his right ear.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong,” Trump said, describing the sound of the bullet and the ensuing bleeding.

The FBI is treating the event as an assassination attempt. The shooter, Crooks, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper at the scene.

He was armed with an “AR-style rifle” and fired from a building a few hundred meters from the venue. Crooks was identified through DNA since he had no ID on him, and his motive remains unclear.

Reports indicate Crooks was a registered Republican and had previously donated to a liberal campaign group.

Stephen Moore, a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign, questioned the preparedness of the Secret Service, calling it a “scary day.”

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi denied claims that additional security resources were requested and rebuffed.

He stated that they had actually increased protective measures due to the campaign’s travel schedule.

The shooting occurred shortly after Trump began his speech, causing chaos as supporters ducked for cover.

Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious person on a nearby building roof with a rifle, and several attendees recounted the chaotic scene and their reactions.

Politicians from both parties condemned the violence. President Biden called the attack “sick,” emphasizing that “there’s no place in America for this kind of violence.”

Former President Barack Obama and Trump’s former vice-president Mike Pence also denounced the attack, expressing relief that Trump was not seriously hurt.

Despite the incident, Trump’s campaign managers confirmed he would accept his party’s nomination at the upcoming convention in Milwaukee.

Some Republicans blamed President Biden for the shooting, accusing him of inciting fears about Trump’s potential return to office.

James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, announced plans to summon the Secret Service director for a hearing to address the incident.

Source-BBC