(PatriotNews.net) – In Butler, Pennsylvania, whistleblowers revealed to Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri that a law enforcement officer assigned to monitor the roof of a building left their post because it was “too hot.” This roof was where 20-year-old Thomas Crooks fired multiple rounds on July 13, targeting former President Trump during his campaign rally.
Crooks shot from the roof of American Glass Research (AGR) Building 6, which was outside the rally’s perimeter but had a direct view of the stage where Trump was speaking. According to Senator Hawley, a whistleblower with direct knowledge of the Secret Service’s plan informed him that there was supposed to be a law enforcement officer on the roof at all times during the rally. However, the officer abandoned their post due to the high temperature, which reached 92 degrees that day.
Hawley expressed concern over this security failure, noting that emergency personnel were primarily focused on attendees suffering from heat-related issues rather than potential threats. This lapse allowed Crooks to fire shots that resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, and injured two others critically.
Hawley visited the site and found that the AGR building was less than 150 yards from the main stage, making it a clear vantage point. While Congress confirmed that Crooks purchased a ladder from Home Depot, he could have accessed the roof without it. Lawmakers who visited the site managed to reach the roof easily without a ladder.
The whistleblower also disclosed that law enforcement personnel were assigned to patrol the building’s perimeter to prevent anyone from climbing onto the roof. However, this task was also neglected.
Senator Hawley criticized the multiple failures in communication and security protocols, stating that there were supposed to be coordinated efforts among law enforcement, but they failed to execute the plan effectively. Approximately an hour passed from the first sighting of Crooks to when he started shooting. Despite spotting him 20 minutes before the gunfire, law enforcement lost track of him temporarily.
Moreover, the whistleblower mentioned that the Secret Service had delegated the responsibility of monitoring the AGR building to local or state law enforcement. This led to a blame game between local and federal officials.
On the same day, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, taking full responsibility for the security lapse in a letter. Senator Hawley has now called for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign, criticizing his management and the DHS’s preparedness.
The DHS has announced a 45-day independent review of the assassination attempt to improve their security measures. Meanwhile, Senator Hawley continues to gather information from whistleblowers to understand how Crooks managed to access the roof and fire at the rally.
