Janice R. Andrews
According to a person familiar with the inquiry, the shot that killed the guy who tried to kill former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last Saturday was a “one-in-a-million shot.” The insider told Fox News that a countersniper with the Secret Service fired the deadly shot; his view was partially blocked.
The lip of the roof blocked the sniper’s view, so the Secret Service agent who killed 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks’ assassination attempt could only see Crooks’ gun sight and the top of his eye and forehead. The sniper was able to eliminate the threat with one shot, even though it was a difficult shot.
The accuracy and dexterity needed for the Secret Service sniper’s successful shot were demonstrated when a local tactical team attempted to fire at Crooks but were unsuccessful.
This discovery coincides with additional facts coming to light regarding the mishandled security detail that allowed Crooks to scale a building, have a clear view of Trump, and start shooting at the former president. People are applauding the Secret Service members for stopping the gunman and defending President Trump. Kimberly Cheatle, the agency’s head, is drawing a lot of flak for how she handled the situation.
Concerns about Trump’s safety have prompted inquiries from a former Secret Service agent over his permission to appear on stage. “Why not wait?” inquired a former agent. Monday is Cheatle’s hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Lawmakers have called for Cheatle’s resignation due to her agency’s handling of the shooting at the Trump rally.
Monday at 10 a.m. on Capitol Hill is when the hearing, entitled “Oversight of the U.S. Secret Service and the Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump,” is scheduled to start. The Pennsylvania sheriff adds another level of complexity to the events taking place by defending local police who approached the gunman at the Trump rally.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said on FOX Business on Thursday that he is ready to ask President Biden to remove Cheatle even though she has refused to resign. “During a catastrophic situation, continuity of operations is crucial, and U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has no plans to resign. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement late on Wednesday that “she deeply respects members of Congress and is fiercely committed to transparency in leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews.”
When Cheatle made an appearance this week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, lawmakers surrounded her and demanded answers. The intense scrutiny and high-stakes investigations highlight how serious the problem is and how quickly responsibility and improved security measures must be implemented going forward.
