At least five US Secret Service officers involved in the planning of Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvaniaon July 13, where a gunman tried to kill the former president, has been placed on administrative duty, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
The officials are still working but must not be involved in anything operational including security planning, the sources told ABC News.
The investigation by the Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility has intensified, and while the investigation has focused on failures, misconduct and planning leading up to Butler, the probe now focuses on a number of issues, including the number of classified threats against former President Trump by Iran and what the agency did in response security-wise regarding the new intelligence service.
An official tells ABC News that this means even more senior officials could be caught up in the review.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pa.
Evan Vucci/AP, FILE
“The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania and the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump,” the agency said. “The US intelligence agency’s review of the mission assurance is ongoing, and we are investigating the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure.”
The agency said it holds its staff to the “highest professional standards” and would not comment further.
Trump was hit in the ear by a bullet during the assassination attempt at his campaign rally on July 13, which also killed one bystander and injured two others, officials said. The gunman, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents.
The US Secret Service recently made arrangements for Trump to resume outdoor campaign rallies surround his podium with bulletproof glassmultiple sources told ABC News.
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to note that Secret Service officers were placed on administrative leave, not leave.