After the report was published, the Acting Director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, said that "it is important that we hold ourselves accountable for the failures on July 13" and that the organization must learn from the failure.
The report highlights deficiencies in both local and federal law enforcement and points out several missed opportunities to stop the armed man who opened fire from an unsecured rooftop.
Were Unaware
The communication failed at several points. The report notes, among other things, that some local police on the scene, due to lack of information, were unaware that the Secret Service was not receiving their radio transmissions.
When the police tried to locate the shooter, vital information was delayed because it was communicated outside the Secret Service's own network.
According to the report, the personnel failed to radio "a description of the attacker, or vital information obtained by local police about a suspect on the roof".
Knew About Security Challenges
This, in turn, led to Trump's bodyguards not receiving information about searching for a person who appeared suspicious, just before the attack occurred. Had they been informed, they could have made a decision to move Trump, the investigation emphasizes.
The report also raises questions about why no police were present on the roof where the man opened fire.
The investigation also claims that the Secret Service understood in advance that the choice of location for the campaign rally posed a security challenge – but no measures were taken.
The investigation does not point out specific individuals as responsible for the incident.
At the campaign rally, Donald Trump was hit by a bullet in the ear and lightly injured. One spectator was killed and two were injured.
