Six U.S. Secret Service agents have been suspended without pay following the July 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn confirmed the disciplinary actions in a statement to CBS News, noting that the agents received penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days of unpaid leave. Upon returning, they were reassigned to less critical roles. The suspensions were issued in accordance with federal disciplinary procedures.
“We’re not going to fire our way out of this,” Quinn said. “The agency is laser-focused on fixing the root cause of the problem.”
The Secret Service has faced intense public and congressional criticism for its handling of the July 13, 2024, rally, where gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire. Trump suffered a minor injury when a bullet grazed his ear. Two other attendees were wounded, and 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper during the incident.
“Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn stated. “It was an operational failure, and we’re focused today on ensuring it never happens again.”
In response to the breach, the agency has implemented new security measures, including military-grade drones and mobile command centers designed to enhance real-time communication with local law enforcement.
However, criticism of the agency intensified further after a second attempted attack on Trump occurred weeks later in West Palm Beach, Florida. That incident, though thwarted, led to the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and prompted multiple internal and congressional investigations.
A bipartisan House task force subsequently released a scathing 180-page report describing the Butler attack as “preventable.” The report cited deep-rooted issues in leadership, inadequate training, and poor coordination with local police as contributing factors.
The Secret Service has pledged to implement the report’s recommendations as part of an ongoing effort to restore public trust and improve presidential security.
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