Secret Service had ‘limited resources’ for Trump rally due to NATO summit: Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers told the House Judiciary Committee that Secret Service resources were stretched thin last week ahead of a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump occurred, because the agency was also protecting the NATO summit, the committee said in a letter to the FBI on Thursday.

Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) wrote that he had learned from the unnamed whistleblowers that the FBI was present during two briefings on July 8 when the rally was discussed.

Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Tim Burke told law enforcement personnel during the briefings that the Secret Service had "limited resources" that week because it was also covering the NATO gathering in Washington, D.C., Jordan wrote.

Jordan acknowledged that the FBI was not the sole law enforcement entity responsible for the rally security but added it is the "lead federal investigative arm and a key source of intelligence on potential threats for special events in its area of responsibility."

The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office is leading the investigation into the rally, where a gunman opened fire on the crowd, killing one person and critically injuring two more. Trump suffered a minor injury to the ear. The shooter, who authorities say was 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, crawled onto the roof of a building about 400 yards from Trump and was able to fire off multiple rounds before a Secret Service sniper killed him.

The incident marked the first assassination attempt on a president or former president in four decades, and several questions about what led to the stunning security failure remain unaddressed.

Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe briefed lawmakers about the incident Wednesday, saying the agency was made aware of Crooks 20 minutes before he fired shots at Trump, according to a source familiar with the briefing. Pennsylvania State Police alerted the Secret Service about Crooks, identifying him as a "suspicious person" with a rangefinder, which is a firearm accessory used for taking long shots.

Jordan also said he had questions about the FBI's ability to carry out the investigation in a "rapid, transparent, and thorough" manner "in the wake of its recent scandals."

The chairman demanded several records from Wray about the investigation and what involvement the FBI had in planning security for the rally. He asked Wray to respond by July 23. Wray is also scheduled to appear before the committee for the FBI's annual oversight hearing on July 24.

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Jordan's inquiry toward Wray marks the latest of several efforts by congressional committees to obtain details about the assassination attempt. Senate and House lawmakers across the political spectrum have demanded briefings and planned hearings as they seek answers about how and why the massive security breach happened.

The Secret Service has faced numerous questions about why there were security gaps on the day of the shooting. Initial reports claimed Trump's security detail had requested extra security for the event, leading the agency to respond, saying the claim was "absolutely false" and it had actually "added protective resources and capabilities" to Trump's security. The Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is set to testify before Congress on Monday.

The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.