Secret Service Puts Multiple Agents on Leave Over Trump Shooting Probe

The U.S. Secret Service has placed several agents on administrative leave as part of an ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that occurred last month. Among those on leave is the head of the Pittsburgh field office, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The internal affairs division of the Secret Service is still probing how a 20-year-old gunman managed to fire eight shots from a rooftop near Trump during a rally held in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. One of those shots grazed Trump’s ear.

An official spokesperson for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, refrained from confirming the leave status of the agents, stating that he would not delve into personnel matters. However, he outlined that a mission assurance review is underway, focusing on assessing the policies and procedures that contributed to the security breach.

He stated that any identified violations of professional conduct within the agency will undergo a thorough investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility, which may lead to disciplinary action.

During the rally, Corey Comperatore, a local father and firefighter, tragically lost his life, and two other attendees sustained serious injuries. The gunman was ultimately shot dead by a Secret Service sniper positioned on the stage where Trump was addressing the crowd.

In the aftermath of the incident, Kimberly Cheatle, who was serving as the director of the Secret Service, faced intense scrutiny from congressional members. Following this, she resigned after refusing to divulge specific details regarding the ongoing investigation and the agency’s response. Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who took over following Cheatle’s resignation, expressed feelings of shame over the assassination attempt and promised a thorough investigation into the failures that allowed the incident to occur.

Congress is actively pursuing its own inquiries into the event, leading to the establishment of a task force focused on the assassination attempt. Senate members have requested extensive documentation from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies related to the incident.

This week, Trump held his first outdoor rally since the shooting, where he was shielded by bulletproof glass, implemented as a security measure in light of the earlier attack.