During a recent congressional hearing, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris revealed that two local law enforcement officers left their post to search for a suspicious individual, Thomas Matthew Crooks, before he opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The officers were stationed at a window in the complex of buildings where the shooting occurred and had spotted Crooks acting suspiciously on the ground.
It remains unclear whether the officers would have been able to see Crooks climbing onto the roof had they stayed at their post. A video taken at the scene showed a clear view of the roof from a second-story window, raising questions about the security measures in place.
The shooting, which resulted in the death of one spectator and injuries to two others, prompted Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign, citing the agency's failure to protect the former President. Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service had been alerted multiple times about a suspicious person before the shooting but had not deemed him a threat until moments before he began firing.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with both the Biden administration and lawmakers looking into the security lapses that allowed Crooks to access the roof and open fire. Despite searches of Crooks' phone revealing information about various political figures and mental health topics, authorities have not identified a clear motive for the shooting.
Efforts are underway to establish a bipartisan task force to investigate the assassination attempt on Trump's life, with lawmakers from both parties expressing support for the initiative. The House is expected to vote on the formation of the task force soon.
