Security Failures and Unanswered Questions Surrounding the Trump Rally Shooter

In the aftermath of Saturday's shocking incident, many are left grappling with how Thomas Crooks managed to get a direct shot at former President Trump. According to Fox News, the Butler Township Police had flagged the Secret Service about a lack of manpower near the building Crooks scaled to execute the attack.

A headline from the New York Post reads, "Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks Tracked Ex-President's Appearances for Months." This disturbing detail has raised significant concerns. Three people were shot at the rally, with one fatality: Cory Comparterator, a volunteer fire chief who tragically died while shielding his family.

Cara Frederick, a former Department of Defense counter-terrorism analyst, emphasizes the gravity of this oversight. In the realm of Secret Service and presidential campaign events, it is a fundamental rule that any elevated platform with a line of sight to the president must be secured. The fact that it wasn’t is a glaring error. Coordinating local law enforcement, state officials, and federal authorities is critical for a security plan. The lapse in this coordination is apparent.