Trump Assassination Attempt Probe: Multiple Secret Service Agents Put On Leave

The U.S. Secret Service has placed at least 5 agents on leave, including the head of the Pittsburgh Field Office, as part of an investigation into the failed assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump last month.

Among the Secret Service members placed on leave were 3 other agents from the Pittsburgh office and a member of Trump’s personal security detail.

At least 5 USSS agents put on leave in Trump probe pic.twitter.com/zDdijcWTu1

— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) August 23, 2024

Typically when Secret Service agents are put on leave, it is with pay and it is not clear at this time whether the decision to put them on leave was a disciplinary move.

The Secret Service has been under intense scrutiny from members of Congress ever since the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania which left Trump wounded and the alleged gunman and a rally attendee dead.

Questions continue to pile up as the now six week long investigation continues.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has received information from whistleblowers within the Secret Service who claim that agents working the Butler, PA event were told not to request additional resources and that any such requests would be denied.

That information is in direct conflict with Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe who has claimed that no resources were denied.

🚨🚨 NEW – Whistleblower says Secret Service HQ told agents working the Butler PA event NOT to request additional manpower resources for the rally & warned any such requests would be denied. Contradicts Director Rowe testimony, who said no resources were ever denied pic.twitter.com/85sHTAI82u

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 23, 2024

Chief of Communications for the Secret Service Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement earlier today:

“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler, Pennsylvania and the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The U.S. Secret Service’s mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure,”

Kimberly Cheatle, who was the Director of the Secret Service at the time of the incident, resigned after refusing to provide detailed answers to heated questioning from members of Congress.

Rowe has been more direct about the incident, admitting that, “This was a Secret Service failure,” but the agency still faces multiple inquiries in addition to its internal review, including an independent commission created by the Department of Homeland Security.