Trump's individual Secret Service officer is currently on a break.
According to recent US news, following the July assassination attempt on Donald Trump, various Secret Service employees have been suspended. This isn't necessarily a disciplinary action for each individual, as reported by various news channels.
In relation to the attempted assassination on the U.S. presidential candidate, several Secret Service agents have been put on leave, as per media reports. These agents include personnel from the Pittsburgh field office, who were responsible for Trump's security during the July campaign event, according to several U.S. television stations. Fox News and CBS News confirm that at least five agents, including one from Trump's personal security detail, have been suspended. The Secret Service remained silent on the matter, tagging it as a "personnel matter."
The events of July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, are still under investigation, as stated by Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "We are examining the procedures, processes, and factors that led to this operational failure."
Director Stepped Down
Trump managed to evade the attack during the July 13 rally, with a bullet just grazing his right ear. One man in the audience was fatally shot, and two other attendees were seriously injured. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
CBS News is unsure if these recent suspensions constitute disciplinary actions, as agents often take leave during ongoing investigations, which could also be to provide them with mental relief.
As a result of the assassination attempt on Trump and the alleged failure of the Secret Service, its director, Kimberly Cheatle, had previously resigned. The Secret Service oversees the safety of current and former U.S. presidents.
Established in 1865 as a law enforcement agency, the Secret Service primarily focused on financial crimes. Its responsibility for ensuring the head of state's safety was officially transferred to the Secret Service in 1901, following the assassination of 25th U.S. President William McKinley. The agency currently boasts approximately 3,200 "Special Agents" and 1,300 "Uniformed Division Officers."
The suspensions of several Secret Service agents, as mentioned in media reports, include those from Trump's personal security detail. Following the resignation of the Secret Service director due to the alleged failure to prevent the July assassination attempt on Trump, the agency is reviewing its procedures and processes.
