OPINION: Attempt on Trump’s life raises more questions than answers

The investigation of the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., has resulted in more questions than answers. This article contains a summary of facts compiled by U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins. R-La., after his onsite investigation. The full report in PDF form is available here: bit.ly/3XwuAUO.

This column also includes facts obtained from statements made by witnesses at the House Republican Forum on the Attempted Assassination of former President Donald Trump: bit.ly/3BctW7v.

Prior to July 13, the United States Secret Service has never assigned a counter-sniper team to a former president, including Trump. Secret Service counter-sniper teams stated clearly to Emergency Services Unit Command that they had never been deployed to a former president’s event, nor had they heard of a prior deployment by other Secret Service counter-sniper teams.

Why the change of procedure that day? Who ordered it? Did someone have prior knowledge of a potential threat?

The Secret Service did not retrieve the radios that had been set aside for them by Butler County tactical command, even though Adams Township Sgt. Ed Lenz, who commands the Emergency Services Unit, called to remind them to pick them up. This crisis and loss of life could have been averted by the use of these radios. Why didn’t they use them?

The Secret Service was also offered use of a drone by the Butler County Emergency Services Unit but refused it. Why?

According to a timeline provided by Butler County Emergency Services Unit, the ESU saw Thomas Matthew Crooks with a range finder at 5:38 p.m., and sent a text to Commander Lenz, who forwarded via text to the Secret Service at 5:45 p.m. That’s a seven-minute delay but still plenty of time before shots were fired at 6:12 p.m.

According to Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, the fact that Crooks was using a range finder made him suspicious. Crooks should have been detained and questioned at that time. Trump should not have been placed on the “X” spot until the possible threat was removed.

“That’s what the holding areas are for,” Bongino said.

Again, there was another break in protocol.

Crooks was spotted climbing on the roof of the AGR International Inc.’s headquarters building at 6:06 p.m. He was seen on video running across the roof at 6:08 p.m.

A local officer climbed the roof at 6:10 p.m., and Crooks pointed his gun at him. The officer slipped, fell and ran to his vehicle to retrieve his long rifle. At the same time, a call was received by the south-side Secret Service snipers and they repositioned their southern-facing guns to the north toward Crooks. In spite of this knowledge, Trump was left on the stage. Two minutes later at 6:12 p.m., Crooks fired eight rounds.

Then the brave SWAT officer fired shot No. 9, disabling Crooks’ gun.

Crooks’ position provided excellent concealment from the north-side counter-sniper team because of the foliage and branches from two trees. His firing position did not offer excellent concealment from the south-side counter-sniper team. However, it should be noted that the would-be assassin perfectly positioned himself to minimize the threat of counter-fire from the ground or the Secret Service counter-sniper teams. Crooks’ firing position was also several feet back from the actual peak of the AGR rooftop. By choosing this position, Crooks effectively minimized the skyline profile of his head and upper body. This makes you wonder if he had help in choosing his positioning.

The ninth shot fired on July 13 was from a Butler SWAT operator about 100 yards away from the AGR building. This shot hit Crooks’ rifle stock and fragged his face, neck and right shoulder. This brave SWAT operator immediately left his assigned post and ran toward the threat, running to a clear shot position directly in the line of fire while Crooks was firing eight rounds. On his own, this Emergency Services Unit SWAT operator took a very hard shot. The shot damaged the buffer tube on Crooks’ AR-15, stopping Crooks’ ability to shoot. According to the Emergency Services Unit SWAT operator, Crooks recovered after just a few seconds and “popped back up.”

The 10th and final shot was fired from the southern counter-sniper team.

Congressman Higgins asked to examine Crooks’ body on Aug. 5. It caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact. The FBI released the body for cremation 10 days after July 13. The Butler County coroner, who had authority over possession of the body, wasn’t notified prior to this by the FBI.

Higgins stated: “The FBI cleaned up biological evidence from the crime scene, which is unheard of. Cops don’t do that ever.”

The FBI hosed off the roof and destroyed evidence.

What are they hiding? Why didn’t they follow protocol?

The Secret Service snipers had prior knowledge of a threat 18 minutes before Trump was even on the stage at 6:03 p.m. With a budget of $3.3 billion, why doesn’t this agency have the most high-tech equipment, such as drones, star link, threat alarms, etc.? Where does all that money go?

A congressman questioning acting Secret Service director Ronald L. Rowe said: “In the good old days, even a gunshot in the air would’ve gotten someone’s attention to keep President Trump off that stage until the threat was removed.”

Trump escaped assassination by a miracle turn of his head, suffering a bullet through his ear. The fatal shot to rally-goer Corey Comperatore and serious wounds suffered by attendees James Copenhaver and David Dutch would not have happened if those 18 minutes had been used appropriately by the Secret Service.

The Secret Service should be held accountable for complete and total failure.

Kimberly A. Cheatle stepped down as director of the Secret Service after many lawmakers demanded her resignation following the total failure of the department to protect Trump. She should have been fired but was allowed to resign, keeping her benefits and resume intact. Rowe was promoted to acting director following this disaster.

Secret Service employees who were present that day have all been put on administrative leave with full pay but none have been terminated. Allowing this blatant incompetence to continue with no accountability is a disgrace to our country and all the hard-working Americans who pay their salaries.

As of this writing, there has been another assassination attempt against Trump. Is there a mole in the Secret Service?

Thankfully Trump is safe and the would-be assassin has been arrested.

Dugger retired as a journeyman carpenter from Clearwater Paper. He lives in Lewiston.