Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, has been summoned to testify on July 22 regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump this past Saturday during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The subpoena for Cheatle was issued through a letter signed by James Comer, the head of Oversight and Accountability in Congress, who disclosed the letter on his X account.
On Saturday afternoon, the 78-year-old Trump had just begun his campaign speech in Butler when a gunman opened fire at the stage, striking the former president in the right ear. Secret Service agents immediately rushed to protect him and escorted him from the scene.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” Trump shouted to his supporters, raising his fist as officers quickly led him away. His campaign stated that he was in good condition and that he had apparently not sustained significant injuries, aside from a wound on the upper part of his right ear.
In the letter to Cheatle, Comer commended the “tremendous bravery” of the Secret Service agents at the rally, who protected Trump, neutralized the assailant, and prevented further harm to the large crowd. So far, it has been reported that one spectator died at the event, while two others were seriously injured.
However, in the hours following the attack, many have questioned the effectiveness of the Secret Service for failing to prevent a sniper from positioning himself, armed and unnoticed by the numerous agents present, on a rooftop just 163 yards (about 150 meters) from the podium where Trump was speaking.
“Political violence in all its forms is un-American and unacceptable. There are many questions, and Americans demand answers,” Comer stated in a release.
In the early hours of Sunday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the suspect in what they classified as an attempted assassination. Crooks was registered as a Republican according to voter lists from the northeastern state and had donated $15 to a Democratic political action committee at age 17.
Secret Service agents shot and killed the gunman after he fired multiple rounds from the roof of a building close to the stage where Trump was speaking. An AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle used in the shooting was found near his body, according to the agency.
The firearm was legally purchased by Crooks' father, as reported by ABC and the Wall Street Journal, citing sources. Authorities discovered bomb-making materials in his car, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency analyzed over a dozen videos and photographs taken at Trump’s rally and satellite images of the location, which illustrated the gunman's proximity to the stage where the former president was speaking.
A video posted on social media and geolocated by AP shows the body of a man dressed in gray camouflage lying motionless on the rooftop of a manufacturing plant north of the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump’s campaign rally was held.
The rooftop was less than 150 meters from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a trained shooter could reasonably hit a human-sized target, said AP. As a point of reference, U.S. Army recruits must hit a human-scale silhouette at that range to qualify with the M16 assault rifle during basic training. The AR-15 is the civilian semiautomatic version of the military M16.
The shooting occurred days before Trump is set to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination and less than four months before the November 5 elections, where Trump will face a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.
Kimberly Cheatle has over 28 years of service in the U.S. Secret Service and is the agency’s 27th director and the second woman to hold the position.
Key Questions About the Trump Assassination Attempt
In light of the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, several critical questions have arisen regarding the incident and the response by the U.S. Secret Service. Here, we address some of the most pressing inquiries.
What were the immediate actions taken by the Secret Service during the attack?
Secret Service agents quickly protected former President Trump, escorted him from the scene, and neutralized the assailant to prevent further harm.
Who is the suspect identified in the assassination attempt?
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the suspect in the attempted assassination.
What weapon was used in the attack on Trump?
The attacker used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, which was found near his body on the rooftop.
What are the criticisms faced by the Secret Service following the attack?
Critics have questioned the Secret Service's effectiveness in failing to detect the armed sniper positioned close to the stage where Trump was speaking.