Attempts by Congress to obtain and preserve records and information relating to the security setup at Trump's Butler, Penn., have thus far failed as the DOJ, the DHS and the FBI are all stonewalling the investigation.
Sen. Johnson further demanded in a letter he wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland, DHS head Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray the preservation of background information on the alleged gunman as well as all texts and communications between law enforcement agents, including Secret Service personnel, only to receive no cooperation.
"The lack of transparency from federal entities regarding the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt – which left former President Trump wounded, one rally goer dead, and two other spectators critically injured – is unacceptable," Sen. Johnson's office wrote in an executive summary of its preliminary investigation findings.
"Congress and the public deserve a full explanation and complete answers to all questions regarding the failure of security at the Butler rally. Without transparency, the truth behind the assassination attempt will never be fully revealed and understood."
(Related: Did you know that the current queen of the Secret Service, Kim Cheatle, is a close friend of the Biden Crime Family, having been personally recommended for the position by "Dr." Jill's office?)
Secret Service stonewalled local law enforcement's efforts to protect Trump and his supporters
In the immediate aftermath of the Butler incident, Sen. Johnson's office began feverishly contacting federal, state and local government entities, as well as various private companies, seeking information about what happened with the security failure at Trump's rally. One thing that was discovered is that Secret Service failed to attend a key security briefing for local special weapons and tactics (SWAT) and sniper teams the morning of July 13.
Sen. Johnson's office says Butler County Emergency Services (Butler ESU) provided the security briefing at 9:00 am for all local SWAT teams and snipers assigned to the rally. Local SWAT teams and snipers from nearby Washington and Beaver Counties also attended the meeting.
Nowhere to be found, however, was Secret Service which showed zero interest in even attempting to coordinate with local law enforcement to ensure that Trump and his supporters were safe from harm during the rally.
Local law enforcement confirmed that communications "were siloed" and "not in frequent radio contact directly with Secret Service." And now the world is wondering: why not?
Prior to when the alleged shooter opened fire, local law enforcement notified command, but nothing was done to stop him. It was later revealed that the Secret Service was well aware of that notification but did nothing about it.
Secret Service wasn't going to send snipers to Butler but changed mind after learning local teams were going "sniper heavy"
Almost unbelievably, Secret Service agents were seen on the rooftop of the American Glass Research (AGR) building on which the alleged shooter opened fire. Photos proving this were reportedly sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for facial recognition.
Sen. Johnson's office reported that it is unknown when Secret Service arrived on the rooftop following the shooting or how Secret Service and others accessed the rooftop. It is also unclear why ATP was the agency assigned to conduct facial recognition on Crooks, nor do we know whether or not ATF ultimately conducted any facial recognition at all on the photos provided to their agent.
There was a point in time when Secret Service was not even planning to send any snipers to the rally. Local law enforcement in and around Butler told Sen. Johnson's office that it was planning to go "sniper heavy" all on its own in order to ensure proper coverage.
It almost seems, at least from this writer's perspective, that Secret Service may have been planning to not bring snipers because it knew there was going to be an assassination attempt on Trump and planned to allow it. After discovering that local law enforcement was going "sniper heavy," everything changed in an instant.
"Local law enforcement learned at least a day before the rally that Secret Service changed course and decided to send two sniper teams," the preliminary investigation report explains.
"If Secret Service had originally not intended to send snipers to the rally, it is unclear why and when Secret Service changed their plan."
Sen. Johnson's office emphasized in the report that these findings are "very preliminary" and "barely scratch the surface of what a full investigation must reveal."
"We are releasing this document to provide the public with complete transparency and to ensure that all entities examining the assassination attempt are equipped with this information," the team says.
"We are also hoping it prompts others – both in law enforcement and the general public – to come forward. The information presented in this document raises many questions that Congress and law enforcement entities must answer. Senator Johnson's office will continue to pursue the truth and in doing so, encourages anyone with relevant information on the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt or the alleged shooter to contact his office and email his whistleblower account: [email protected]."
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