McCaul Questions Local Pennsylvania Law Enforcement on Security Failures at Trump Rally

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) -chairman emeritus of the House Homeland Security Committee - questioned Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher L. Paris during the Homeland Security Committee hearing to investigate the attempted assassination of President Trump.

Click here to watch.

Excerpts from Rep. McCaul's Questioning:

McCaul: Thank you Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for the site visit we had [in] Butler, Pennsylvania, yesterday. It was very eye-opening and educational.

I agree with the ranking member's comments, in terms of after 9/11, connecting the dots in federal, state, and local [law enforcement] working together was the answer. I led a joint terrorism task force when I worked at the Department of Justice. I was also involved in national security events, so I know how these things operate.

[…]

[During the site visit,] we actually walked onto the roof where the [shooter] was, [who had] a clear, eyes-on, shot of President [Trump]. A tree blocked the Secret Service's view. This kid did some investigation. He had a drone out there days prior [and] got an aerial surveillance of the premises. And that position was probably the best position outside the perimeter as far as I can tell. There was also a water tower that would have been a perfect spot for Secret Service. Were you aware of any presence of the Secret Service on this water tower?

Colonel Paris: I was not.

McCaul: You're aware of what I am talking about?

Colonel Paris: I am familiar. I physically flew out there on Saturday the 13th. It was still very much an active crime scene, so I did not walk on the roofs.

[…]

McCaul: The thing I find interesting is that the counter sniper [on] Secret Service, within seconds of the shots on the president, kills the suspect. That tells me [the Secret Service counter-sniper] had him in his sights, and maybe he [was] not aware of who the individual was, he was not identified. But I know within seconds after the shots were fired at the president, the threat was eliminated.

And lastly ... He had a detonation device with him, and two of his bombs were located in his car that was parked on the other side of the of the perimeter. Seems to me, a good theory would be that he was going to kill the president and then detonate his car causing a diversion and then escape from the crime scene. Are you aware of any of this?

Colonel Paris: I am aware of the presence of the device on his person.

###