Secret Service Archives

Hearing on Trump assassination attempts says Pennsylvania failure was by Secret Service

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of a bipartisan House task force investigating the Trump assassination attempts emphasized during their first hearing that the Secret Service, not local authorities, was responsible for failures in planning and communications that led to a gunman being able to open fire on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers repeatedly questioned why the agency tasked with protecting the country’s top leaders didn’t do a better job communicating with local authorities during the July 13 rally, particularly when it came to securing the building that Thomas Michael Crooks was able to climb up and open fire on Trump.… Continue Reading

A tale of crushing security lapses and missed chances to stop the man who shot Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Investigations into the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in July have revealed striking security lapses. But the questions have only grown since then. As the country deals with an apparent second attempt on Trump’s life, there’s still a reckoning to be done from the Pennsylvania shooting that killed one man and wounded three — the ex-president among them. The Secret Service was one of at least nine federal and local security divisions that were supposed to be working together that day. But at Trump’s rally, a young man with a rifle borrowed from his dad outmaneuvered authorities for more than 90 minutes before firing the shots that came millimeters from killing Trump.… Continue Reading

Man who staked out Trump at Florida golf course charged with attempting an assassination

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man who authorities say staked out Donald Trump for 12 hours on his golf course in Florida and wrote of his desire to kill him has been indicted on charges that he attempted to assassinate the former president. Ryan Wesley Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offenses. The upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department’s assessment that he methodically plotted to kill the Republican nominee, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon Trump was playing on it. Routh left behind a note in which he described his intention.… Continue Reading

Feds: Man accused in apparent assassination attempt left note indicating he intended to kill Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump wrote a note months earlier saying that he intended to kill the former president. That’s according to a detention memo filed by the Justice Department. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed with the Justice Department that Routh should remain locked up, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and that he should stay behind bars. The note, addressed “Dear World,” was dropped off at the home of an unidentified person who contacted federal authorities following the arrest last Sunday of Ryan Wesley Routh. The box, which also contained ammunition, a metal pipe and other items, was not opened by the person until after Routh was taken into custody.… Continue Reading

Spending deal averts a possible federal shutdown and funds the government into December

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have a deal on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months. The agreement announced Sunday averts a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushes final decisions until after the November election. Bipartisan negotiations began in earnest shortly after a failed vote last week in the House. ouse Speaker Mike Johnson dropped his plan to link temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.… Continue Reading

Secret Service report details communication failures preceding July assassination attempt on Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Communication breakdowns with local law enforcement hampered the Secret Service’s performance ahead of a July assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. That’s according to a new report that lays out a litany of missed opportunities to stop a gunman who opened fire from an unsecured roof. A five-page document summarizing the Secret Service report’s key conclusions finds fault with both local and federal law enforcement, underscoring the cascading and wide-ranging failings that preceded the July 13 shooting at a Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally where Trump was wounded in the ear by gunfire.… Continue Reading

Hunter Biden’s sentencing on federal firearms charges delayed until December

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden will be sentenced on felony firearms charges in December after the judge agreed to a delay requested by the defense. President Joe Biden’s son was convicted in June of three felonies to the purchase of a gun in 2018 when, prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. He was initially scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, but the judge agreed to delay the hearing until Dec. 4 after Hunter Biden’s lawyers said they needed more time to adequately prepare. The gun charges are punishable by up to 25 years in prison, though he is likely to get far less time or avoid prison entirely.… Continue Reading

Harris condemns Trump rhetoric, says voters should make sure he ‘can’t have that microphone again’

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday decried Republican Donald Trump for inflammatory rhetoric about migrants in Springfield, Ohio and on other topics, and said voters should make sure he “can’t have that microphone again.Sitting down for a rare extended campaign interview Tuesday with trio of journalists from the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris said her heart breaks after threats of violence have disrupted the city following comments amplified by Trump and his running mate alleging without evidence that immigrants are kidnapping and consuming people’s pets.… Continue Reading

Trump and Harris resume campaigning after second apparent assassination attempt

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential election campaigning is revving back up. Donald Trump heads on Tuesday to Michigan and Vice President Kamala Harris answers questions at a Black journalists forum in Pennsylvania. Their travels come as authorities continue to investigate a second apparent assassination attempt against Trump that’s roiled the race. Trump is holding a town hall in Flint, Michigan, and has appearances later in the week in New York, Washington and North Carolina. Harris will participate in a Philadelphia gathering of the National Association of Black Journalists. That follows a recent appearance before the group by Trump that sparked an uproar when he questioned the vice president’s racial identity.… Continue Reading

Trump blames Biden and Harris’ rhetoric toward him despite his own history of going after rivals

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is blaming rhetoric from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the apparent assassination attempt on him in Florida despite his own history of going after rivals. This year’s presidential campaign was among the most turbulent in American history even before Sunday’s incident in Florida. Trump was safe after the incident in Florida and praised the Secret Service for protecting him, but didn’t shy away from quickly blaming his opponents. By contrast, Biden steered clear of politics. He said Monday that “thank God” Trump is OK and said the Secret Service “needs more help.”… Continue Reading