Durbin Previews Hearing Examining Security Failures that Led to Trump Assassination Attempt in Speech on the Senate Floor

07.29.24

Durbin Previews Hearing Examining Security Failures that Led to Trump Assassination Attempt in Speech on the Senate Floor

The Senate Judiciary and Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committees will hold a bipartisan joint oversight hearing tomorrow, featuring testimony from the U.S. Secret Service and FBI

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previewed tomorrow's joint oversight hearing examining the security failures leading to the assassination attempt against former President Trump. In partnership with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), the committees will hear testimony from U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials.

Key Quotes:

"This assassination attempt has exposed more than just the continued threat of gun violence in America. It has also revealed unacceptable security failures in the operations of the United States Secret Service."

"Despite the implementation of a security plan to secure the rally site on July 13, the shooter involved was able to fly a drone outside of the security perimeter for 11 minutes. His suspicious activity was reported twice, and he was spotted on the roof of a building prior to taking his first shot-yet his violent plan continued unimpeded, and he was able to fire eight shots before a Secret Service countersniper killed him."

"The implications are terrifying, when a mere two days after the shooting, the Secret Service needed to secure the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. And in less than a month, the Secret Service must secure the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, in our home state of Illinois."

"Between now and November 5, Vice President Harris and former President Trump will hold countless political events with thousands of Americans across the country. The Secret Service will need to secure all of these major events, but the agency needs first to restore our trust in its ability to do so."

"During this hearing, we will hear from Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe about the security failures on July 13 and what the Secret Service is doing to rectify those issues. We will also hear from FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, who will provide an update on the FBI's investigation into the assassination attempt."

"There are many questions which the American public deserves answers to, including:

• Why was the shooter able to conduct [reconnaissance] at the fairgrounds on the morning of the rally? How and when was he able to bring an assault rifle to the premises?
• Why was the building from where the gunman shot excluded from the Secret Service['s] security perimeter, despite being within the range of an AR-15, the most popular rifle in America?
• Why was the gunman able to conduct reconnaissance and move about freely, even after being identified as a suspicious person, without any intervention by local or federal law enforcement until it was too late?
• What organizational and on-the-ground changes has the Secret Service implemented since this occurred to ensure better security in the future? Which of these changes were in place in time for the Republican National Convention?
• And which are still in the process of being implemented for future events, such as the Democratic National Convention?
• What challenges does the proliferation of weapons present to the Secret Service's mission to protect former and current presidents and vice presidents, [their] families, and major candidates to those offices?"

"There is an urgent need for bipartisan collaboration in Congress to provide these answers to the American people as soon as possible, so that the Secret Service can begin to rebuild trust and more effectively fulfill its mission. The work has already begun, and tomorrow's joint hearing will help bring about transparency and accountability for Secret Service failures in Butler on July 13."

"The hearing is a joint hearing of the two committees, and it is bipartisan … Partisanship has nothing to do with keeping our elected officials and those running for office in a safe mode throughout their conduct … Political violence and vandalism is never, ever acceptable."

Video of Durbin's floor speech is available here.

Audio of Durbin's floor speech is available here.

Footage of Durbin's floor speech is available here for TV Stations.

Last week, Durbin announced the joint Judiciary-HSGAC hearing in a speech on the Senate floor.

The hearing follows a joint briefing on Thursday, July 25^th for the Committees with USSS and FBI, where the agencies assured Senators that they will do everything in their power to ensure proper coordination with local and state authorities and address all potential vulnerabilities at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, among other things. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction and oversight authority over the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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