Josh Hawley Releases Whistleblower Report on Handling of Trump Assassination Attempt

Josh Hawley Releases Whistleblower Report on Secret Service's Handling of Trump Assassination Attempt

Senator Josh Hawley has unveiled a whistleblower report on the Secret Service’s and DHS’s alleged failures during the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, PA this past July.

At a Glance

Whistleblower report alleges multiple security failures surrounding the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump.
The lead agent for the Butler rally allegedly failed a key Secret Service training exam.
The report criticizes inadequate security at the hospital where Trump was treated.
Secret Service intelligence units were reportedly absent from the rally.
Hawley calls for a thorough overhaul of responsible agencies.

Whistleblower Report Alleges Serious Security Lapses

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has released a comprehensive whistleblower report detailing alarming security failures surrounding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report, which has been shared with the acting director of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, appears to paint a picture of negligence and incompetence within the agency responsible for protecting high-profile individuals.

The whistleblower report alleges a series of critical oversights that potentially jeopardized the safety of the former president. The report includes the claim that the lead agent assigned to the Butler rally had failed a key examination during their Secret Service training. This raises serious questions about the agency’s vetting process and the qualifications of personnel entrusted with such crucial responsibilities. In addition, Secret Service intelligence units were also allegedly entirely absent from the rally.

🚨🚨 NEW – Following the latest assassination attempt on ⁦⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩, I’m releasing a comprehensive Whistleblower Report on the multiple failures of Secret Service & DHS – including new allegations & numerous unanswered questions due to USSS stonewalling pic.twitter.com/Rxcim9N05U

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 16, 2024

Hospital Security and Intelligence Failures

The report doesn’t stop at criticizing the rally security. It also takes aim at the allegedly inadequate protection measures at the hospital where Trump was treated following the assassination attempt. Whistleblowers described the hospital as “poorly secured,” with the site agent reportedly unable to answer basic security questions. This alleged lapse in preparedness is particularly concerning given the heightened threat level following the initial attack.

Calls for Accountability and Reform

The release of this whistleblower report has intensified scrutiny on the Secret Service, which was already facing criticism in the wake of the assassination attempt. The incident led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and the placement of at least five individuals on leave. Senator Hawley has been vocal in his demands for a thorough overhaul of the responsible agencies, citing a lack of transparency from the Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security.

“These agencies and their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility,” the report says.

As lawmakers demand answers and a congressional task force investigates the incident, the Secret Service has acknowledged Hawley’s report and stated its commitment to cooperating with congressional oversight. The agency faces the daunting task of rebuilding public trust, a task that has been complicated further in the wake of an incident over the weekend in which a suspect was arrested after allegedly pointing a rifle at Trump’s golf course in Florida. The safety of our nation’s leaders and the integrity of our protective services hang in the balance as this investigation unfolds.