WASHINGTON — A new Secret Service report on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July said many personnel knew about the open line-of-sight risks but found them “acceptable” and that farm equipment was intended to block the view of the nearby building where the attack occurred. The gunman’s fire was never used.

The internal review released Friday is the latest in a list of reports and investigations into the July 13 shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, that killed one rallygoer and injured two others. Trump was shot in the ear before being carried off the stage.

A Secret Service counter-sniper shot and killed gunman Thomas Crooks.

A classified version of the report prepared by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility was shared with members of Congress, while a seven-page non-classified summary was made public Friday. The first version of the agency’s investigation into his conduct was released in September.

The report largely echoed the findings of other investigations that faulted poor communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement in that day’s outreach and the agency’s failure to avoid nearby vantage points, including a building just 500 feet from the podium where Trump was to speak. – from being used by the gunman.

But it provides more detail about the failings of an agency that has intensely scrutinized its performance in what has been described as a “no fail” mission that protects top U.S. leaders.

Line of sight issues

The report included accusations that Secret Service personnel failed to find a way to mitigate the risk posed by the cluster of nearby buildings that provided an unobstructed view of the podium.

Crooks climbed one of the buildings and fired eight shots before he was killed.

“Multiple Secret Service personnel mistakenly assessed these line-of-sight risks to the former President as acceptable, resulting in inadequate screening,” the report said.

The report said inspectors expected large pieces of farm equipment to be placed that would block the view between the buildings and the stage, but ultimately they were not used.

The report did not explain why they were not used, but noted that staff who visited the area to plan for security before the rally did not tell their superiors that line-of-sight concerns had not been addressed.

communication problems

The report detailed how the Secret Service created a security suite for the event, staffed by personnel from all law enforcement agencies assisting that day. However, the report stated that only the Pennsylvania State Police had one person in the security room, while local emergency dispatchers had a separate room.

“The previous team failed to monitor and ensure that the Security Room was staffed according to Secret Service methodology,” the report said.

The internal review also said the Secret Service anti-sniper team did not receive the radio the local law enforcement team offered them, weakening their communications ability.

“These breakdowns in communications significantly contributed to the failure of the mission, with the majority of law enforcement personnel performing protective operations, including former President Trump’s protective team, remaining unaware of crucial information leading to the assassination attempt,” the report said.

Weather

The report suggested that the high temperature that day and attention to rally participants feeling the effects of the heat played a role in distracting security personnel.

An internal review found that one of the local emergency management teams on site reported 251 requests for medical assistance that day.

The report stated that “the lack of coordination with campaign staff on these issues resulted in a higher than expected rate of security personnel being diverted to assist with medical interventions.”

Responsibility

Friday’s report did not detail whether anyone in the Secret Service had been fired or otherwise reprimanded. He suggested that some staff’s performance may require “corrective counseling” or “disciplinary action” and promised accountability for anyone found to have violated agency policy.

The agency’s Office of Integrity will now review the findings.

The Associated Press previously reported that at least five Secret Service agents had been placed on modified duty. Then-director Kimberly Cheatle resigned more than a week after shooting, saying she took full responsibility for the mistake.