During a Senate briefing on July 17, it was revealed that Crooks was spotted approximately 50 minutes before Trump was scheduled to speak, equipped with a range finder. Despite being detected, Crooks took a position on a rooftop and opened fire.
According to reports, he was equipped with a range finder, a device typically used for measuring distances, which he presumably used to gauge his proximity to the former president.
This crucial information, however, did not prevent him from taking a position on a rooftop and firing several shots at Trump, who was just ten minutes into his speech at the time.
The Secret Service’s detection of Crooks on the rooftop 20 minutes before he began shooting, as reported by ABC News, has led to intense scrutiny and criticism of the agency’s handling of the situation.
Notably, the rooftop from which Crooks fired was not secured because, as USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle explained in a statement to ABC News, it was sloped and presumably difficult to guard effectively.
The aftermath of the briefing has been fraught with frustration among GOP lawmakers, who have voiced their dissatisfaction with the level of accountability and transparency from the Secret Service.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) expressed her dismay on social media, stating, “I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service knew about a threat prior to President Trump walking on stage,” and called for Director Cheatle’s resignation.
This sentiment was echoed by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), who criticized the briefing as inadequate and indicative of a “cover-your-ass” attitude within the agency.
The Senate briefing, described by participants as “unbelievably uninformative,” allowed for only a few questions, leaving many lawmakers without the opportunity to probe deeper into the circumstances of the failed security measures.
The limited information provided did little to address the systemic failures that allowed Crooks, a clearly identified threat, to come dangerously close to harming a former president.
In response to the outcry, a special task force with subpoena power is set to be established on July 22 to further investigate the incident, signaling congressional intent to hold those responsible accountable.
Additionally, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has initiated its own investigation into the matter.
Despite the backlash, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has publicly backed Cheatle, asserting his “100 percent confidence in the director of the United States Secret Service.”
Cheatle, for her part, has stated she will not resign but acknowledged her responsibility for the security arrangements at the rally.
As the investigations proceed, the nation watches closely, awaiting answers and accountability for a lapse that could have ended in tragedy.