PA State Police Commissioner Testifies About Rally
In a dramatic House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris revealed startling details about the security failures that nearly led to the assassination of former President Donald Trump. His testimony raised significant questions about the U.S. Secret Service's preparedness and response.
This hearing came just a day after now-resigned Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before the House Oversight Committee, where she largely avoided answering questions about the shooting incident at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
Commissioner Paris provided a detailed timeline of the events leading up to the shooting. The would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was first spotted by local law enforcement officers amidst the crowd. Two officers from the Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU), a tactical force with sniper capabilities, left their posts to pursue Crooks, whom they had deemed suspicious.
Lawmakers viewed video footage showing the vantage point from which the ESU officers abandoned their posts, allowing Crooks to climb onto the roof and take aim at Trump.
Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina questioned Paris about whether these officers, had they remained at their posts, could have prevented Crooks from reaching the roof. Paris could not definitively say, highlighting the ongoing investigation.
Paris revealed that Crooks fired eight rounds before being taken down by counter-snipers. This detail was previously unconfirmed, with officials only noting that multiple shots had been fired. The revelation of eight rounds fired intensifies the scrutiny on the response time and effectiveness of the security measures in place.
One of the most harrowing moments described was a municipal officer’s face-to-face encounter with Crooks on the roof. As the officer attempted to climb up and confront Crooks, he was left dangling and vulnerable.
Crooks aimed his rifle at the officer, causing him to fall just moments before Crooks began firing at Trump. Paris corrected a previously given timeframe, clarifying that Crooks was on the roof for roughly three minutes, with only seconds passing between the confrontation and the gunfire.
Paris also detailed the breakdown in communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement. A text thread among members of the ESU first flagged Crooks as suspicious. The ESU reported their concerns to the State Police, who immediately relayed the information to the Secret Service. Despite this, the critical warnings did not translate into effective action to prevent the shooting.