The two officers were stationed at second-story windows in a building in a complex owned by AGR International, a company located just next to the farm show grounds.
Paris wasn't sure if those posts had a clear view of the roof that Crooks eventually shot from, which was also part of the AGR complex.
This image shows the location of the shooting site, about 400 feet from the stage, at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Google Earth/CBS News
"Had [Butler County Emergency Services Unit] maintained position in that window overlooking the roof, isn't it true that they would've had a clean shot at Mr. Crooks as he was ascending the roof to his shooting position?" Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina asked.
"I'm not prepared to say that because I don't know the exact timeline of events," Paris said.
He claimed the officers had left to go look for Crooks after spotting him on the ground.
"At a certain point, they began searching, along with other local officers, in the immediacy … after Crooks had been identified as suspicious, by them," Paris said. "At some point, he produced a rangefinder, which heightened that suspicion."
On Wednesday, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger called Paris' testimony a "misstatement."
During a walkthrough of the area prior to the event, a Pennsylvania State Police commander asked the Secret Service who was responsible for securing the roof of the AGR building, and was told that responsibility belonged to the Butler County ESU, Paris said.
Paris also disagreed with former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's assessment of the AGR building that the roof was too sloped to be safe for stationing personnel.
"The slope of the roof, would that have prevented a sniper from being up there?" the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, asked Paris.
"I don't believe so, sir," Paris answered.
Paris said he was limited in what he could say and could not jeopardize the investigation into the shooting.
"This is very much an ongoing, complex and dynamic investigation," Paris said. "And each day, as we arrive at Day 10 [Tuesday], I learn multiple new facts as we uncover new information, as the investigation progresses."
Col. Paris defends Pennsylvania State Police response
"What do you say to those that are saying that local law enforcement failed to provide adequate security at this rally?" Republican Rep. Anthony D'Esposito of New York asked Paris.
"Based on everything I know up until Day 10, I only am going to comment on the Pennsylvania State Police. And it's my belief as I sit here, based on all of the information that I have, that we met or exceeded our expectations for that event. Am I saying that the event was a success? Obviously, it was not," Paris said.
Pennsylvania State Police provided 32 personnel at the Secret Service's request and was tasked with running a motorcade for Trump with the Secret Service. Other PSP personnel staffed security posts within the secure area at the Butler Farm Show. He explained that two troopers were on "roving duties" outside the secure area.
PSP also had personnel inside a command post that included members of the Secret Service.
On Wednesday, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger contradicted Paris' testimony, saying the specific action of the two officers assigned to the AGR building was "misstated." The DA said neither officer left their post as Paris testified Tuesday.
"While one of the officers did leave the building briefly, it was in response to a suspicious person who had not encountered law enforcement despite them notifying other law enforcement of the suspicious person," Goldfinger said in a news release. "Even so, that officer returned to the post, and the post was never left vacant as the other officer remained in the building."
"Further, neither officer could see Crooks on the other building due to the visual angle they had from their location to Crooks' location," Goldfinger added. "To say that these officers left their post is a misstatement."
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