Hello, everyone. Welcome back! On July 13, former President Trump held a campaign rally in Pittsburgh. What was expected to be a standard political event took a shocking turn when an assassination attempt was made against the former president.
Senator Josh Hawley, a prominent figure on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, recently revealed startling information from a whistleblower regarding this event.
Here’s the peculiar part: The whistleblower has reported that the night prior to the rally, the local law enforcement had offered to provide drone coverage to increase security at the event. Surprisingly, this offer was repeatedly declined by the U.S. Secret Service. This isn’t just a denial of an available resource, but a refusal of an advanced technology that could have significantly enhanced security.
Senator Hawley to all whistleblowers: “We need you.”
All the vital information we now know about the failures to protect Trump on July 13 hasn’t come from the Secret Service or the FBI—but from whistleblowers.
And that’s why the American people don’t trust their government. pic.twitter.com/NqODnzBKlj
— Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) July 25, 2024
Adding to the mystery, the would-be assassin, a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, aged 20, was able to use a drone to survey the area before the event. This was confirmed by FBI Director Christopher Wray during a congressional hearing.
The incident raised a significant question – why didn’t the Secret Service employ drones? Moreover, why did they only request drone assistance from local authorities after the attempted shooting had already transpired?
Senator Hawley has requested all Department of Homeland Security communications regarding drone coverage for the rally from Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This forms part of a congressional investigation into what appears to be a severe lapse in security, permitting an armed man to come within 150 yards of the former president.
Many are questioning why the Secret Service would refuse the usage of drone technology, especially considering that the shooter was able to fly his own drone over the rally area hours prior to the event. According to the whistleblower, these drones were equipped to identify and potentially neutralize active shooters, a feature that could have been critical.
NEW:
“According to one whistleblower, the night before the rally, U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied offers from a local law enforcement partner to utilize drone technology to secure the rally.”
Via @HawleyMO pic.twitter.com/aKjxP5KUyw
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) July 25, 2024
In the aftermath of the attack, the assailant was able to fire an AR-15 from a rooftop, resulting in the tragic death of a 50-year-old father of two and injuring two others. The former president was also injured, with images showing him with blood on the right side of his head.
Security experts expressed their surprise at the decision to decline drone assistance, raising concerns about drone specifications, federal flight rules, and operator and spotter training. However, there is a consensus that the Secret Service’s protective model needs serious reevaluation at the very least.
NEW: Whistleblower says Secret Service turned down drone help for President Trump’s rally in Butler, PA, where a shooter tried to take the former President’s life. @CB_Cotton@foxandfriends pic.twitter.com/ChBQXr2ipN
— Cryptid Politics (pro-DeSantis) 🇺🇸🐊 (@CryptidPolitics) July 26, 2024
The incident has certainly sparked discussions about safety at public events and the integration of local and federal security resources. We hope this analysis has shed some light on the complexities of the situation. As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments. Thanks for joining us today, and we’ll see you next time.