Bipartisan panel demands urgent reform of Secret Service
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A bipartisan independent panel has released a scathing report calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the Secret Service, following the assassination attempt on former President Trump in July. Commissioned by President Biden, the panel included notable figures such as former Homeland Security leaders Janet Napolitano and Frances Townsend.
The report highlights significant failures in the Secret Service's response during the incident, where a gunman fired eight shots at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Key findings point to a lack of critical thinking and ownership within the agency, as well as inadequate planning that allowed the assailant a clear line of sight from a nearby building. Communication breakdowns were also noted, with local police unable to relay urgent information about a suspicious individual armed with a long gun.
Investigative reporter Carol Leonig, who has extensively covered the Secret Service, confirmed that the panel's findings align with her reporting from the day of the incident. She emphasized that the report reveals a troubling pattern of complacency within the agency, raising concerns about its commitment to addressing and rectifying its shortcomings.
Among the panel's recommendations is the suggestion that the next director of the Secret Service should come from outside the agency—a significant shift that has been resisted in the past. Leonig noted that previous calls for external leadership have gone unheeded, but the urgency of the current situation, given the near-fatal nature of the attack on Trump, has amplified the need for change.
The report also asserts that the failures observed are not primarily due to budgetary constraints, indicating that a cultural overhaul is necessary. Leonig remarked that while the agency is filled with dedicated individuals, it has developed a culture more focused on concealing issues rather than addressing them. She stressed the importance of bringing in new leadership to foster a willingness to learn, embrace technology, and openly confront problems.
The findings of this report underscore the critical need for reform within the Secret Service to ensure the safety of those it is sworn to protect.
The report highlights significant failures in the Secret Service's response during the incident, where a gunman fired eight shots at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Key findings point to a lack of critical thinking and ownership within the agency, as well as inadequate planning that allowed the assailant a clear line of sight from a nearby building. Communication breakdowns were also noted, with local police unable to relay urgent information about a suspicious individual armed with a long gun.
Investigative reporter Carol Leonig, who has extensively covered the Secret Service, confirmed that the panel's findings align with her reporting from the day of the incident. She emphasized that the report reveals a troubling pattern of complacency within the agency, raising concerns about its commitment to addressing and rectifying its shortcomings.
Among the panel's recommendations is the suggestion that the next director of the Secret Service should come from outside the agency—a significant shift that has been resisted in the past. Leonig noted that previous calls for external leadership have gone unheeded, but the urgency of the current situation, given the near-fatal nature of the attack on Trump, has amplified the need for change.
The report also asserts that the failures observed are not primarily due to budgetary constraints, indicating that a cultural overhaul is necessary. Leonig remarked that while the agency is filled with dedicated individuals, it has developed a culture more focused on concealing issues rather than addressing them. She stressed the importance of bringing in new leadership to foster a willingness to learn, embrace technology, and openly confront problems.
The findings of this report underscore the critical need for reform within the Secret Service to ensure the safety of those it is sworn to protect.
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