Sen. Tom Cotton on Sunday criticized the Biden administration and the U.S. Secret Service for what he called "serious failures" in communication and resource allocation that preceded the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in July 2024.
The Arkansas Republican said that government watchdog and Senate reports confirm there were "serious failures in communication and the allocation of resources under the Biden administration" in the lead-up to the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump.
Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Cotton said the Secret Service was not adequately responsive to requests from Trump's security detail during the campaign, despite multiple appeals for additional protective measures.
"The report from the GAO as well [as] the Senate reports indicate there were serious failures in communication and the allocation of resources under the Biden administration," Cotton said. "The Secret Service was not responsive to the request not only of the Trump campaign, but the head of the security detail, who is now the head of the Secret Service as well."
A report released Sunday by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found the Secret Service denied or left unfulfilled at least 10 requests from Trump's protective detail in the months leading up to the shooting. Those requests included enhanced counterdrone systems, countersniper teams, and counterassault team personnel.
On July 13, 2024, a 20-year-old gunman opened fire from a rooftop during Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed the president, one rallygoer was killed, and two others were critically injured. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Cotton said Trump is right to say mistakes were made and praised Secret Service agent Sean Curran, who shielded the president during the attack.
"I do believe, as President Trump said, the Secret Service is working to redress those problems and make sure they do not happen again," Cotton said. "I have confidence in President Trump and Sean Curran. I know the president has confidence in Sean — after all, he put his body on top of President Trump to protect him from further bullets. It would be hard to imagine how you could have more confidence in someone."
Cotton added, "They are gonna redress those failures, to ensure this doesn't happen, not just for President Trump right now, but all of the protectees of the Secret Service in the future."
Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and serves as chair of the Senate Republican Conference, has called for greater oversight of the Secret Service and accountability for security lapses.
The Senate Homeland Security report concludes that "institutional failures" left Trump vulnerable during one of the most high-risk stages of his campaign.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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