Erik Prince, brother of Betsy DeVos, sharply criticized the U.S. Secret Service and other security agencies following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The brother of the former secretary to the Department of Education under Trump condemned the Secret Service‘s failure to prevent the shooter from getting within 150 yards of Trump, labeling it as “either malice or massive incompetence.”
Prince, who founded the private security company Blackwater, argued that Trump survived only due to a miscalculation by the shooter, whose bullet grazed Trump’s ear instead of hitting him in the head. He emphasized that the Secret Service’s handling of the situation was inadequate, claiming that a counter-sniper’s hesitation and lack of coordination were evident during the incident.
“Hopefully after the tragedy yesterday in Butler [Pennsylvania] we can all recognize that unaccountable bloated bureaucracies continue to fail us as Americans,” Prince stated. He criticized the security perimeter and the response time, highlighting the chaotic evacuation that left Trump exposed to further danger.
Prince drew on his experience in providing diplomatic security, arguing that the basics of securing a perimeter were not executed properly. He called for accountability and a shift toward merit-based hiring and leadership in security agencies.
In the wake of the shooting, President Joe Biden has directed the Secret Service to review all security measures for this week’s Republican National Convention and launched an independent review of the security at the rally. The FBI is leading the investigation into the attempted assassination, and there are growing calls from Congress for investigations into the security failures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other lawmakers have demanded a full investigation, with hearings expected to feature testimony from Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI later this month. The incident has raised concerns about the adequacy of security protocols for high-profile political events, especially with the upcoming convention.
Prince’s post comes as the Associated Press reported Sunday an account from sources that described shocking details that allegedly occurred moments before the shooting took place.
A group of rallygoers reportedly saw the suspect climb to the top of a roof of a nearby building and warned local law enforcement, two law enforcement officials told the outlet.
One law enforcement officer climbed a ladder and saw the suspect lying on the roof, who proceeded to point his rifle at the officer. The officer ducked down the ladder, and the shooter quickly took shots toward Trump. At that point, Secret Service counter-snipers began to shoot at him, officials said under the condition of anonymity.
The Secret Service has said there were four counter-sniper teams: two from the agency and two from local law enforcement on the ground. The agency has also said Cheatle was in Milwaukee at the time of the shooting, where this week’s Republican National Convention is being held.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The shooting has been described by sources as coming from the “three o’clock” position of Trump’s podium location, with shots coming from his right side about 150 meters away, according to CNN. After gunfire began, counter-snipers began shooting at the suspect, who was found dead on the roof of an American Glass Research building outside the perimeter of the rally.
Authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by Secret Service agents after firing multiple rounds, resulting in injuries to Trump and the death of a bystander. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on how the shooter obtained rooftop access and evaded security measures.
