Law enforcement sources across “multiple counties” in Pennsylvania are contradicting United States Secret Service (USSS) Director Kimberly Cheatle’s account of the events leading up to the assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump on Saturday. Specifically, they are refuting her claims that there were police inside the building from which the would-be assassin opened fire.
Cheatle has said assets were not posted on the building due to its “sloped roof,” and “the decision was made to secure the building from inside.”
Channel 11’s Nicole Ford reports local police took photographs of the sniper, Thomas Matthew Crooks, “at least” 26 minutes before he attempted to assassinate Trump and that these were “sent up the command chain.” Sources told Ford that Crooks was also “spotted by police with a range finder.”
Ford’s sources say Crooks did not climb the roof until after Trump began his speech and that he was on top of the building for “fewer than seven minutes” before being confronted by a local police officer.
Serious questions have been raised about the USSS security failures that allowed Crooks to open fire on Trump, striking his ear and three rallygoers, one of whom was killed. Cheatle has said “the buck stops with me” but she has not offered her resignation.
Multiple law enforcement sources described the security operation in detail Tuesday, directly contradicting public statements from the U.S. Secret Service Director. https://t.co/7L2Ky3U5ds
— WPXI (@WPXI) July 17, 2024