Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino has blown the whistle on alarming lapses and a culture of corruption within the Secret Service that recently endangered former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to Bongino, whistleblowers have confirmed that the agency is hiding significant security failures that nearly resulted in a tragic assassination attempt.
On July 13, during a rally, a gunman named Thomas Crooks managed to bypass extensive security measures, including state, local, and federal agents. In a shocking breach, Crooks climbed onto a roof 450 feet away from Trump and fired eight shots, one of which grazed Trump’s ear. The fact that Crooks was able to get this close without being neutralized raises serious questions about the effectiveness and integrity of those responsible for protecting the former president.
According to the whistleblower’s account, Crooks’s actions on the day of the event were methodical. He flew a drone over the fairgrounds to gather aerial footage and was seen suspiciously roaming the premises hours before Trump took the stage. Despite these red flags, he managed to park a vehicle loaded with explosives near the rally site and position himself on a roof to take aim at Trump.
Even more troubling, a sniper positioned just 40 feet away from Crooks failed to neutralize him, allowing the gunman to fire off multiple rounds. This failure is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a larger problem within the Secret Service, as described by Bongino and supported by a counter-sniper’s email obtained by RealClearPolitics.
The counter-sniper, who also backed up Bongino’s claims, expressed deep frustration with the agency’s leadership. “This agency NEEDS to change,” the sniper wrote. “If not now, WHEN? The NEXT assassination in 30 days?” The email highlights the sentiment among rank-and-file agents who feel their concerns are being ignored by a leadership more focused on appearances than genuine security.
???????????? EXCLUSIVE: A Secret Service counter sniper sent an email Monday night to the entire Uniformed Division (not agents) saying he will not stop speaking out until "5 high-level supervisors (1 down) are either fired or removed from their current positions." The counter sniper… pic.twitter.com/0dg99EESQk
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) July 30, 2024
Bongino further illustrated the extent of the problem by recounting a past incident involving a Russian spy at the U.S. embassy in Moscow. Despite Bongino’s warnings about the suspicious woman, leadership dismissed his concerns, only to later discover she was indeed a spy. This example underscores a long-standing issue of dismissing credible threats and concerns raised by experienced agents.
The current situation has prompted Attorneys General from Virginia, Missouri, and the Wyoming Secretary of State to launch investigations into these security failures and the broader culture within the Secret Service. These investigations aim to hold those responsible accountable and implement necessary reforms to prevent future lapses.
The revelations brought forward by Bongino and the whistleblowers paint a troubling picture of an agency entrusted with the highest levels of security. As the 2024 election approaches, ensuring the safety of political figures like Trump is paramount. The public and lawmakers alike will be watching closely to see if meaningful changes are made to restore trust in the Secret Service.