On October 21, the House Special Committee investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump released its findings, describing the July attack as a “security failure” that “could have been avoided and should not have happened.”
On July 13, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old man named Crooks fired multiple shots from the roof of a building approximately 140 meters from Trump’s podium. The incident resulted in an injury to Trump’s right ear and led to the death of one audience member, with two others sustaining serious injuries.
The Special Committee, composed of 13 members—seven Republicans and six Democrats—conducted a nearly three-month-long investigation. Their report characterized the attack on Trump as a “shocking security lapse,” primarily attributing the failure to poor communication among the Secret Service, Pennsylvania state police, and local law enforcement in Butler. The report emphasized that the Secret Service bears the bulk of the responsibility for the incident.
According to the report, “The Secret Service, state, and local law enforcement could have intervened at several critical moments with the shooter, Crooks. However, due to the disarray in communication among the parties involved, Crooks was allowed to evade law enforcement, climb onto the roof, and open fire.”
While the report highlights the systemic issues leading to the attack, it does not identify any specific individuals accountable for the security failures.
In a separate incident on September 15, Trump was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a man armed with a gun was reported near the golf course. This individual has been charged with two firearm-related offenses.
Media reports indicate that the House Special Committee is currently investigating this recent event as well.