Ricketts Pushes Secret Service, DHS for Answers After Attempted Assassination of President Trump

July 15, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) demanded answers from the leaders of the U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security after a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump at a rally on Saturday.

“This cowardly attempt on President Trump’s life and subsequent death and injuries to American citizens prompts a thorough review of the safety measures and procedures that were in place in the days leading up to this attack and the response immediately following. Transparency brings accountability,” Ricketts wrote in a letter.

The letter was sent to Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the U.S. Secret Service, and Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security. Ricketts demanded answers to five critical questions: 

1. Was either the Secret Service or the Department of Homeland Security notified of any threats at the event prior?
2. Did anyone with the Secret Service raise concerns prior to this event with the building in which the shooter was located?
3. Did any member of the secret service or any other law enforcement member request permission to engage the shooter? Were any such requests denied?
4. There have been reports that law enforcement was notified that there was an unauthorized person on the roof of an adjacent building prior to any shots being fired. Is this true?
5. Will you commit to doing a full investigation into this assassination attempt and make those findings public immediately? 

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Director Cheatle and Secretary Mayorkas:

I write to express my most profound concern following the assassination attempt on President Trump at his campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. I am incredibly grateful that President Trump is safe and recovering. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family of Corey Comperatore and to those in attendance recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting.

As you are aware, the Secret Service is mandated by Congress with two distinct and critical national security missions: protecting our nation’s leaders and safeguarding the financial and critical infrastructure of the United States.

This cowardly attempt on President Trump’s life and subsequent death and injuries to American citizens prompts a thorough review of the safety measures and procedures that were in place in the days leading up to this attack and the response immediately following.

Transparency brings accountability. For Congress to conduct objective and independent oversight concerning this heinous attempt on President Trump’s life, please respond to the following no later than August 14, 2024. 

1. Was either the Secret Service or the Department of Homeland Security notified of any threats at the event prior?
2. Did anyone with the Secret Service raise concerns prior to this event with the building in which the shooter was located?
3. Did any member of the secret service or any other law enforcement member request permission to engage the shooter? Were any such requests denied?
4. There have been reports that law enforcement was notified that there was an unauthorized person on the roof of an adjacent building prior to any shots being fired. Is this true?
5. Will you commit to doing a full investigation into this assassination attempt and make those findings public immediately?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,

Pete Ricketts

U.S. Senator (NE)