Secret Service acknowledges that it rejects some of Trump’s team’s security requests
Former US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The Secret Service has acknowledged that, over the past two years, it rejected some of former President Donald Trump's security requests. However, these requests did not pertain directly to the rally in Pennsylvania where an assassination attempt was made on Trump, according to The New York Times.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi admitted that the agency had rejected some requests for additional federal security resources for Trump.
Two sources from The New York Times, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Trump’s campaign had sought extra resources for much of the time he was out of office.
Guglielmi noted that the rejected requests for additional resources did not specifically concern the rally in Butler.
The Secret Service spokesperson stated that in cases where the agency could not provide additional resources, it supplemented Trump's security through state and local law enforcement or adjusted its security plans.
Guglielmi mentioned that the federal agency is limited in the number of resources it can allocate to events.
What the requests from Trump's team were about
A constant source of stress, according to a team representative who spoke on condition of anonymity, was the lack of sufficient metal detectors to screen attendees at mass events.
Additionally, during Trump’s outdoor rally earlier that month in Wildwood, New Jersey, a request from the team for specially trained dogs to search the area was denied, the source told The New York Times.
Secret Service's reaction to the accusations
Following the assassination attempt and the subsequent reports about the agency rejecting Trump campaign requests, Guglielmi denied the allegations.
“There’s an untrue assertion that a member of the former president’s team requested additional resources and that those were rebuffed,” the Secret Service spokesperson said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas described the incident as a failure. Several lawmakers have called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign, though Cheatle has stated she has no intention of stepping down.
On Monday, a bipartisan Congressional task force will begin an investigation into the actions of the Secret Service.
Attempt on Trump
Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt on July 14 during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. He sustained minor injuries, while a rally attendee was killed.
The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. His motives are still under investigation.
For more details on the attack on Trump, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
