The Pennsylvania SWAT team assigned to protect President Donald Trump during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has revealed a significant lack of communication with the Secret Service prior to an assassination attempt on Trump. This revelation has raised concerns about the security protocols and coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
SWAT Team Officer Jason Woods spoke to ABC News about the incident, marking the first time law enforcement personnel at the event have publicly addressed the issue. Woods stated that his team was promised a face-to-face briefing with Secret Service snipers, which never occurred. “We were supposed to get a face-to-face briefing with the Secret Service snipers whenever they arrived, and that never happened,” Woods said. He expressed concern over the lack of communication, which he felt was a pivotal point indicating potential issues with the event’s security.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service declined to comment directly on Woods’ claims but emphasized the agency’s commitment to understanding and rectifying the failures that led to the assassination attempt. “We are committed to better understanding what happened before, during, and after the assassination attempt of former President Trump to ensure that never happens again. That includes complete cooperation with Congress, the FBI, and other relevant investigations,” stated spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
The assassination attempt occurred when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a shot at Trump, injuring his ear. Crooks was later killed by a Secret Service sniper. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned following bipartisan calls for her ousting, admitted to multiple operational failures during a Congressional hearing. Cheatle acknowledged that the agency had been informed multiple times about a suspicious person at the rally and that Crooks had flown a drone near the stage two hours before the event started.
State police also reported observing Crooks using a rangefinder near the rally grounds. Despite these warnings, Crooks managed to access a rooftop near the stage with an AR-15-style rifle and fired shots at Trump. Cheatle explained that no agents were stationed on that rooftop because it was sloped, raising further questions about the Secret Service’s security measures.
The Secret Service initially blamed local law enforcement for managing threats outside the secured zone, but local officers indicated that nearly all their personnel were assigned to work inside the security perimeter, which was already protected by fences, metal detectors, and Secret Service agents.
This incident has highlighted critical gaps in coordination and communication between local law enforcement and federal agencies, prompting calls for a thorough review and overhaul of security protocols to prevent future lapses.
