The Republican National Convention has been a great event so far, with everyone rallying behind former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance (R-OH) for the Republicans. There have been entertaining and inspiring moments, including Trump’s emotional entrance into the hall just two days after Saturday’s assassination attempt.
The things that have come to lightweight about the shooter and what the Secret Service knew – and when it knew it – have infuriated Americans. The latest news is that the Secret Service had the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, on its radar and was aware he posed a threat at least ten minutes before Trump took the stage – but it let the former president go anyway. And that’s on top of the news that police had known Crooks for some time beforehand. Local law enforcement took photos of him at 5:45 a.m., 26 minutes before the shooting. And they had even taken another photo of him an hour earlier.
Yet nothing was done to stop him.
The director of the Secret Service received much ridicule on X after she claimed that the roof Crooks was on was “tilted”, claiming That could have been a reason not to send an agent there for “security reasons.”
Intelligence chief: “Roof slope was unsafe”
A real cow: pic.twitter.com/yxqmhimrYW
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) July 17, 2024
Pitched Roof – Greenville, SC. Don’t try this if you’re a secret agent! pic.twitter.com/ESiaff42Mp
— 🇺🇸Matt Browne🇺🇸 (@TheMattBrowne) July 17, 2024
The Secret Service held a briefing on Wednesday, but reportedly answered only four questions. They did not respond to the mountain of questions about what was going on.
READ MORE: Alarming details about when Secret Service noticed Trump’s suspected assassin revealed in briefing
This has further heated up public sentiment, as Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) noted.
The USSS Senate briefing was incredibly uninformative.
Only 4 questions were allowed.
The rest of us should submit questions. I have already done that. Waiting for a response.
I’m not holding my breath. pic.twitter.com/PJUpCYXOPz
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) July 17, 2024
When Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle showed up at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, senators wanted answers. I’m not sure why Cheatle was there, but Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and other senators ambushed her and bombarded her with questions. They wanted to know why the Secret Service wasn’t providing answers. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) told her bluntly that he had demanded her resignation. “Resignation or a full explanation to us, immediately!” Barasso demanded.
🚨FULL VIDEO: Secret Service Director REFUSES to answer to the American people. pic.twitter.com/MPVOke5zhY
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024
I think she said that was not the place to talk and Barasso said they could find a place. She said she had to go and then they said they would go with her. Then they followed her down the hall and continued to bombard her: “No shame, no worries!” “You are accountable to us!” “That was an assassination attempt! You owe the people answers!” “You owe President Trump answers!” They were all enraged and chased her down the hall until they forced her into a room and she slammed the door on them.
Here is another perspective:
Senators Barrasso and Blackburn confront USSS Director Cheatle at the RNC. Good for them. pic.twitter.com/JDWacOR1Kg
– Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 18, 2024
They are demanding her resignation and have issued a subpoena for a congressional hearing. We will have to wait and see if she shows up.
READ MORE: House Oversight Committee Chairman summons Secret Service Director to appear for shooting discussion
