A bipartisan House task force investigating the first assassination attempt on President Trump released its interim report on Monday, highlighting significant security lapses and an “unclear chain of command” during the July 13 campaign rally where the attempt occurred.
The report pointed to fragmented communication and slow response times as critical factors that contributed to the near-fatal incident. “Critical pieces of information about [the assailant] Crooks and the escalating threat situation at the complex moved slowly due to fragmented lines of communication and unclear chains of command on July 13,” the report stated. According to the panel, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers “could have engaged Crooks at several pivotal moments” but failed to do so due to poor coordination.
Among the key findings was the fact that the Secret Service failed to secure the AGR complex, which was adjacent to the rally site and offered clear sight lines to the stage. Despite its proximity and the potential risks, the complex was left outside the secure perimeter for the event, and local sniper teams stationed inside the complex were not adequately positioned to monitor the area. State and local authorities near the building also lacked full visual coverage of the area, misunderstanding their role as overseeing the rally site rather than securing the AGR roof and property.
The task force, which includes seven Republicans and six Democrats, described the assassination attempt as “preventable.” Their 53-page report outlined multiple failures in planning and coordination, including a lack of communication between the Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies. “The evidence obtained by the Task Force to date shows the tragic and shocking events of July 13 were preventable and should not have happened,” the report emphasized.
Key failures included the absence of a meeting between federal and local law enforcement on the day of the event and the lack of a unified command post to coordinate communications. Witnesses described a disorganized walkthrough of the area in the days leading up to the rally, with responsibilities between agencies not effectively verified.
The House task force continues to investigate the July 13 incident and has conducted 23 interviews with witnesses from state and local agencies, while also collecting evidence from three subpoenas issued to federal, state, and local authorities. A final report on the findings is expected by December 13, with recommendations to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Read the report here.
