Whistleblowers Claim Most of Trump’s Security Detail at Butler Rally Were Not Secret Service Agents, Sen. Hawley Reports.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has revealed allegations from whistleblowers within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that the majority of the security detail at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 were not U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agents.
In a public letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Hawley outlined several security failures reported by these insiders.
According to the whistleblowers, the rally was designated a “loose” security event, with significant lapses in standard protocols. Detection canines were reportedly not used to monitor entry and detect threats, and individuals without proper designations allegedly gained access to backstage areas.
Furthermore, there was a lack of personnel stationed around the security perimeter and an inadequately enforced buffer zone around the podium.
One of the most concerning allegations is that most personnel assigned to protect the former president were from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) rather than the USSS.
🚨🚨 Whistleblowers tell me that MOST of Trump’s security detail working the event last Saturday were not even Secret Service. DHS assigned unprepared and inexperienced personnel 👇 pic.twitter.com/eo4jNmJWFT
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 19, 2024
Hawley stated that HSI agents were unfamiliar with the standard protocols typically used at such events, raising questions about their effectiveness in ensuring security.
Sen. Hawley criticized DHS for failing to provide Congress with detailed information about the incident and for abruptly ending a call with the USSS before most senators could ask questions. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) echoed this frustration, describing a recent Secret Service briefing on the assassination attempt against Trump as “largely irrelevant” and lacking in substantive information.
Johnson noted that only four senators were allowed to ask questions during the briefing, and there were no opportunities for follow-up questions.
He mentioned that the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, admitted there were mistakes and blunders, but the briefing failed to address the concerns adequately.
Hawley’s letter demands answers to questions relevant to the whistleblowers’ claims. These questions include details on the ratio of USSS to HSI agents at the rally and specifics about pre-rally security investigations. The senator emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in handling the security of high-profile events.
The revelations have sparked concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at Trump’s rally and the adequacy of the personnel assigned to protect him. As the investigation continues, lawmakers are pressing DHS for more information to ensure such lapses do not occur in the future.
The allegations come amid heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service and DHS’s handling of security for high-profile figures, underscoring the importance of adhering to strict protocols and ensuring that qualified personnel are in place to maintain safety and order at significant events.
