(FreePressBeacon.com) – In a bombshell revelation, it has been unveiled that the Secret Service was already under scrutiny by the House Oversight Committee Republicans for several months when a bullet narrowly missed former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
Although Trump was only grazed on his ear, 20-year-old attacker Thomas Crooks managed to tragically kill a bystander and injure at least two others.
Despite the immediate actions of the agents and a countersniper from Trump’s detail, the incident reignited criticisms of the agency, which is known for its troubled history of security missteps and disciplinary inconsistencies.
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer promptly requested Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s presence at a hearing scheduled for today to address these urgent concerns.
“Americans demand answers about the assassination attempt of President Trump,” Comer expressed on X.
According to RealClearPolitics, Comer’s committee initiated an investigation into an April incident involving a female Secret Service agent assigned to Kamala Harris.
Said agent was relieved of her duties following an alleged mental breakdown during which she reportedly assaulted senior agents.
The recent assassination attempt brought further scrutiny to the Secret Service, especially when televised images showed Trump with a bloodied ear and raising a fist in defiance.
This led to questions about the timing of the sniper’s response, especially given reports that bystanders had identified Crooks on a roof before he fired.
A source from within the Secret Service community explained that the agency’s protocol is to only return fire once the president has been attacked.
“You want to take a shot then find out the guy was holding a telescope?” the source asked. “The Secret Service is by nature reactive … and you better be right when you do react or you’re f***ed.”
Questions also arose about whether the Secret Service used drones to be aware of the situation and why they may have chosen not to.
The Secret Service’s reputation has suffered from various incidents over the years, including security breaches during the Obama era and continued challenges into the Trump administration.
Notably, a senior agent stirred controversy by stating on Facebook that she would not “take a bullet” for Trump.
The agent in question, Kerry O’Grady, was then placed on administrative leave but retired with full benefits and maintained her security clearance.
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