Former Secret Service agent reveals unusual security protocols at 2020 presidential rally where an assassination attempt occurred.
A former Secret Service agent who served on two presidential details has informed House lawmakers that “very atypical” security protocols were in place at the July 13 campaign rally where a man attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Patrick Sullivan, a 20-plus-year veteran of the agency, told members of the bipartisan task force probing the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania that the communications plan and placement of agents deviated from ordinary security protocols.
Sullivan took specific issue with having two separate command posts for Secret Service and local law enforcement, the lack of a single radio frequency to quickly communicate threats, and the failure to secure the perimeter of the Butler Farm Show grounds. He expressed concerns about these decisions, stating that they were not appropriate and that he is “really appalled at the communications plan or lack thereof.
Another witness, Butler County Emergency Services Unit Commander Edward Lenz, confirmed that the Secret Service never asked him to deploy snipers to the roof of the American Glass Research building, from where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks took aim. Sullivan argued that normal command posts should be composed of state and local police, Secret Service, and other federal partners, with just one overall command post.
Sullivan also told Crow there should only be a single radio frequency monitored by the security detail of the protectee. When Crooks was flagged as a suspicious person nearly 30 minutes before opening fire, Sullivan added that it would have been appropriate to remove the president from the stage at that time.
Sullivan disagreed with past testimony from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who claimed counter-snipers typically set up near the protectee with their line of sight facing out toward the crowd. Sullivan contended that post standards and police officers posted in the crowd were responsible for observing the crowd, while counter-snipers should handle threats outside the perimeter.
Asked by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) whether additional resources were needed in the future to secure perimeters like the one at the Butler rally, Sullivan suggested that more resources would be helpful. Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight shots during the event, striking Trump in the right ear and critically injuring rallygoers David Dutch and James Copenhaver. Audience member Corey Comperatore was killed as a result of the shooting.
On Wednesday, the Trump campaign announced that the Republican nominee would return to Butler to hold another rally on October 5.
