A Butler County official said on Wednesday that local authorities had informed the U.S. Secret Service that local police lacked the manpower to help secure the building used by the shooter who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump last weekend.
The Secret Service "Was informed that the local police department did not have manpower to assist with securing that building," Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told The Washington Post, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed this account to the outlet and provided additional details.
His bullets grazed the Republican presidential candidate's ear, killed one rallygoer, and injured two more before Secret Service agents killed Mr. Crooks in a swift response.
Ler County provided four sniper teams, four fast-response teams, and officers to help the Secret Service at the July 13 rally.
Ler County Sheriff Michael Slupe told Reuters that an officer was hoisted to the roof by his partner, but dropped back down when the shooter aimed his rifle at the officer, who was gripping the edge of the roof and could not access his service weapon under the circumstances.
Secret Service 'Solely Responsible' for Overall Security Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said the Secret Service decided to keep officers off the sloped roof because the incline presented a safety issue.
"Secret Service respects local law enforcement, and we could not do our job, either investigatively or on our protective mission, without them," she said.
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is seen in a file photo.
Federal Probes Federal authorities have launched multiple investigations into the Secret Service security failure-which has been deemed the most serious since the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General announced an investigation into the Secret Service's security efforts and counter-sniper team to assess their threat preparation and response.
"Americans demand accountability and transparency regarding the Secret Service's failures that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump. However, President Biden's Department of Homeland Security has not provided this," Mr. Comer said in a statement.
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