By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s been 53 days since a gunman attempted to take the life of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA. The search for more answers surrounding the assassination attempt continues.
Yesterday, The Task Force on The Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump sent five letters to local law enforcement and officials requesting transcribed interviews and additional information, such as planning and post-event actions and communications on July 13.
The letters were sent to the Butler Township Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, and both the Butler County and Beaver County Emergency Services Units.
The task force, chaired by Congressman Mike Kelly (R- PA), also sent letters to the Butler County and Allegheny County coroners requesting the coroner’s report, autopsy and toxicology report of the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The deadline for the information and interviews is September 30.
During a Congressional hearing in July, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) cited communication failures between their agents and local law enforcement. Local police spotted Crooks shortly before shots rang out.
Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the first Congressional hearing. In another hearing, acting USSS Director Ronald Rowe said communications about a shooter on a rooftop were stuck or siloed in local channels.
Rowe said he was deeply ashamed and called July 13 “a failure on multiple levels” during a Senate hearing on July 30. Rowe acknowledged the failures of his agency, which operates with a $3 billion annual budget.
The information requested by the task force yesterday could help shed more light on unanswered questions. Tuesday’s letters and requests are just one part of the task force’s multipronged inquiry. A final report with all findings is due in December.