According to a Wall Street Journal report, the gunman who allegedly fired at President Donald Trump managed to fly a drone to survey the rally area before the attack. This latest disclosure has further highlighted the security failures surrounding the event.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the alleged attacker, used the drone to obtain aerial footage hours before the rally on July 13, as confirmed by law enforcement officials. Additionally, explosives were discovered in Crooks’ vehicle, suggesting he intended to cause more destruction beyond the shooting.
The incident has sparked a blame game between local law enforcement and the Secret Service, each accusing the other of failing to prevent the breach that allowed Crooks to carry out his plan.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has been heavily criticized for the security lapses. While she has taken responsibility for the failures, she has stated that she will not resign from her post. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee voiced her dissatisfaction with the situation, stressing the need to distinguish between verified information and rumors to hold the director accountable.
“The thing that is so frustrating about this is we’re getting these bits and pieces we’re trying to verify and make certain that we know what is information, what is rumor, and that we hold the director to account,” Blackburn said on Fox News. “This is just unbelievable! What a mess!”
The ongoing stream of information and revelations has put immense pressure on the Secret Service to clarify how such a serious security breach occurred, risking the lives of the former president and those attending the rally.
