Secret Service faces serious questions about security footprint and rooftop access at Trump event

Following the failed attempt on Donald Trump’s life, there are many worries and unanswered issues regarding how a sniper managed to get rooftop access only 150 meters away from the former president’s platform location during an outdoor rally.

According to sources, Trump’s platform is at “three o’clock” in the firing, and gunshots are coming from his right side. Shortly after gunshots were heard, the suspect, who was discovered on a roof, was shot by Secret Service counter-assault snipers.                                                                                                                                                                              Notably, the shooter’s location was outside the security perimeter, raising questions about both the size of the perimeter and efforts to sweep and secure the American Glass Research building, and how the shooter was able to obtain rooftop access.

On Sunday, US Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle was given instructions by President Joe Biden “to review all security measures – all security measures – for the Republican National Convention.”

“To determine exactly what transpired at yesterday’s rally, I have ordered an independent examination of the national security aspects of the event. And I’ll let the American people know what that independent review’s findings are,” Biden declared.

According to law enforcement sources, part of the fallout will involve an examination of whether the Secret Service had sufficient resources to shield Trump a few days before he formally announced his candidacy as the Republican nominee for president and whether protocols were observed to carry out security checks of the structure that provided a shooting position for the suspected shooter.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday morning that “fundamentally, one of the most basic elements of site security, especially a site that’s outside and largely uncontrolled, is (to) eliminate sight lines to this space where the protectee will be either speaking or just occupying.” “That map so obviously indicates the buildings that are within it, plainly within shooting range.”[7]