Grassley Launches Secret Service Investigation Following Assassination Attempt against Former President Trump

Grassley Launches Secret Service Investigation Following Assassination Attempt against Former President Trump

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is investigating the U.S. Secret Service (USSS)'s policies and procedures in light of the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Grassley is launching a multi-pronged investigatory effort, sending letters to USSS, FBI, the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ), as well as the Homeland Security Inspector General (DHS OIG), to request records and responses regarding Saturday's monumental security failure.

Secret Service and Homeland Security Oversight

"At this time, the lack of information from your agencies is unacceptable," Grassley wrote in a letter to USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. "You owe Congress and the American people full and complete transparency on how this tragedy could possibly occur. Accordingly, I write today for information concerning whether USSS policies and procedures were followed prior to, during, and after the assassination attempt against former President Trump, including how the USSS was or was not alerted to the gunman's position when multiple reports provided that witnesses within the crowd attempted to alert local law enforcement of the gunman's location."

Grassley's letter additionally raised concerns regarding longstanding USSS issues that threaten the agency's core protective mission. Grassley noted the USSS has apparently failed to implement decade-old recommendations issued by DHS OIG and a DHS review panel to address the USSS's limited training and low staffing.

"The USSS must provide a complete and thorough accounting to the American people to assure them that the Secret Service is correcting its past problems and is fully and effectively carrying out its core mission: protection," Grassley concluded.

FBI and DOJ Oversight

In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland, Grassley requested FBI and DOJ provide his staff rolling updates as they investigate the assassination attempt, as well as share any production of investigative findings. Grassley further urged DOJ to preserve all records related to their ongoing investigation, pointing out that in the past, Justice Department officials destroyed records relating to investigative activity and were unable to produce them to Congress.

Homeland Security Inspector General Review

Following up on communications with the DHS OIG over the weekend, Grassley yesterday called on Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to immediately open a full and complete review of the catastrophic security failure that brought former President Trump "within a centimeter of death." Hours after Grassley made his formal request, DHS OIG opened a review.

Related:

In addition to his oversight requests, Grassley joined Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in calling for USSS Director Cheatle, DHS Secretary Mayorkas and FBI Director Wray to testify before the committee.

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