Newly released bodycam footage from the Pennsylvania rally where former US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt has exposed significant security lapses leading up to the attack. The footage, obtained from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit and shared on X by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, shows that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who opened fire on former President Donald Trump, was identified as a suspicious individual well before the shooting occurred.
The footage reveals a conversation between local police officers and what appears to be a Secret Service agent. The agent is heard identifying Thomas Crooks as the previously reported suspicious person while standing near the suspect’s lifeless body, which shows a visible blood trail. The Secret Service agent discusses how Crooks was spotted hours before the incident and how a police sniper had taken photos of him, including images of him riding a bicycle.
The new video shows the police officer explaining to the Secret Service agent that the sniper had lost sight of Crooks after photographing him setting down a book bag. The footage also includes images of Crooks taken earlier in the day.
On July 13, Crooks opened fire at former US President Donald Trump, narrowly missing his face and grazing the former president’s ear. The shooting injured three other rally attendees and resulted in the death of a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter. The Secret Service agent responded quickly, shooting and killing Thomas Crooks at the scene.
In response to the footage, Senator Chuck Grassley has demanded “detailed answers” from the Secret Service regarding the security failures that led to the attack. Grassley, who released the video on X, emphasized that “transparency brings accountability” and criticized the agency for its lack of transparency with the American public.
The release of this footage follows the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Tuesday, amid intense scrutiny and criticism over security lapses at the rally. Cheatle’s resignation came after calls from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for her removal. President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Deputy Director Ronald Rowe as Acting Director of the Secret Service.
Cheatle took full responsibility for the security lapse in an email to staff, which was obtained by The Associated Press. In a statement, President Biden condemned the incident and pledged that such a failure “can never happen again,” indicating plans to appoint a new Secret Service director soon.
Senator Grassley described the assassination attempt as a “catastrophic security failure” and questioned the Secret Service’s transparency regarding their jurisdiction and operational plans. He released a letter to Homeland Security Chief Mayorkas and Acting Director Rowe, questioning the accuracy of an unconfirmed map showing different law enforcement sectors and seeking clarity on the Secret Service’s security operations for the July 13 rally.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the lapses that allowed the attack to occur and ensuring such security failures are addressed in the future.
