WAR OF WORDS: Butler County Sheriff Insists Building Used by Assassin ‘Wasn’t our Responsibility’ — as Secret Service Ducks For Cover

Butler County Sheriff, Michael Slupe, has denied responsibility for the building used by Thomas Crooks during his attempt on former President Donald Trump ’s life.

Knewz.com has learned that this comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of the security lapse, with the Secret Service – despite their defenses – a current favorite for criticism.

In an interview with the press , Slupe was questioned about communication between the Secret Service and his department regarding said building.

He said, “I can't speak to that because, you know, as far as the building goes, I don't know because it wasn't our responsibility, but they did have a very good briefing.”

“And, like I said earlier, somewhere along the line, you have a briefing and you identify, adapt, and overcome. And there are a lot of well-trained police officers that totally can do that.”

The interviewer, undeterred by Slupe’s attempt to deflect, drew him back to the question of the building, asking if there had been a plan to secure it.

Slupe unanswered: “I have no idea about that. I have no idea. I don't.”

“No, the sheriff's office was not asked to do that, and I don't know whose responsibility that would have been if that was in their plan.”

Director of the Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle, however, telegraphed in another interview that she felt differently.

Cheatle claimed that at the time of the shooting , officers of the Butler County Sheriff's Department were in said building.

“There was local police in that building – there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building,” she said.

Supporting Cheatle’s claim, separate reports indicate that a sniper team from said local law enforcement department was stationed on the second floor of the same building where the near-fatal shot was fired.

According to a former Secret Service agent, the fact that there was a confirmed police presence in said building did not make Cheatle any less liable.

“The Service is responsible for everything, not just the inner perimeter. They should make sure all of this is covered.”

“Officers inside a building – that’s not mitigating a high-ground vulnerability,” said the former protection officer (who spoke under the condition of anonymity).

Cheatle’s stance has stiffened observably since an earlier interview with ABC News when she said: “The buck stops with me.”

“The Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president” and emphasized, “the buck stops with me, I am the director of the Secret Service.”

Cheatle is slated to attend a closed-door hearing with lawmakers on July 22, while members of her agency will brief the House Oversight Committee panel on the sixteenth of the same month.

“We are grateful to the brave Secret Service agents who acted quickly to protect President Trump after shots were fired and the American patriots who sought to help victims, but questions remain about how a rooftop within proximity to President Trump was left unsecure,” Oversight Chair, James Comer (R-Ky.), said while announcing the upcoming congressional hearings.