Retired Secret Service agent in Clayton discusses what went wrong during the assassination attempt on Trump

CLAYTON, N.C. (WNCN) — A retired Secret Service agent who lives in Clayton is identifying several security breakdowns at the Trump rally on Saturday before the assassination attempt on the former president.

Seeing the shooting at Saturday’s Trump rally hits hard for Denny Shlindwein. “I get cold chills,” he said. “My adrenaline really starts going.”

Shlindwein knows what it’s like to protect former presidents and presidential candidates. He served in the Secret Service from 1976-2001 and worked many political rallies. Shlindwein says Saturday’s shooting, shouldn’t have happened. “I immediately knew the problem had to arise with the person that did the advance work,” he said.

The Secret Service goes to a site ahead of an event to evaluate potential risks and Schlindwein said the building where the gunman was should’ve been identified and secured.

“I think because the highest place at that site was the place where the shooter was, it would have been an ideal place for the Counter Assault Team,” he said. “I don’t know what would happen if that guy tried to crawl up there when they were there. That’s my opinion. They should have been there. That’s where you want to put them.”

As for the Secret Service detail that rushed toward the former president after he was hurt, Schlindwein said they did their jobs they way they’re trained. “They waited long enough and surrounded him the way they needed to surround him, so that an agent would’ve been hit before he was hit,” he said.

“Some people are saying that they shouldn’t have allowed him to put his fist up and should’ve covered him,” CBS 17 noted.  Schlindwein responded, “You can’t stop him. You can’t wrap your arms around him; you just can’t do it.”

Shlindwein expects this assassination attempt will lead to changes in the Secret Service.

“They have learned from this, but I don’t think they should have had to learn from it,” he said.

Schlindwein added that questions need to be to answered and concerns addressed. Still, he believes the Secret Service agents protecting the former president Saturday night would’ve given their lives if needed.

“By George, you take the round and I don’t know an agent in the world that wouldn’t do that.”

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