The July 13, 2024, attack was the first time a current or former president had been wounded in an assassination attempt since 1981.
Secret Service suspended 6 agents over “operational failure” leading to assassination attempt on Trump during reelection campaign rally a year ago., Deputy Director Matt Quinn said in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday.
The shooting took place on July 13, 2024, at a campaign stop in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a would-be assassin opened fire from a nearby roof, grazing Trump’s right ear. Trump shouted “Fight! Fight! Fight!” to his supporters before Secret Service agents rushed him off the stage.
Firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed in the shooting, and two other spectators were critically wounded. The attacker was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.
“The Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn told CBS’s Nicole Sganga. “Butler was an operational failure, and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again.”
According to CBS, Quinn said the six agents were suspended without pay or benefits for periods ranging from 10 to 42 days and were reassigned to roles with fewer operational responsibilities upon their return. He said the disciplinary actions were in accordance with a federally mandated process.
Quinn did not specify when the suspensions took place or what specific tasks the agents were assigned to on the day of the shooting, according to CBS.
“We aren’t going to fire our way out of this,” Quinn said. “We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation.”
He noted that several improvements have been implemented since then, including giving agents in the field military-grade drones and upgraded mobile command posts, which improve their radio communications with local law enforcement.
Quinn was appointed to his role in May, returning to the agency he retired from in 2021 after more than two decades of service.
By Bill Pan
