Top Points:
Secret Service Declined Drone Offers: A whistleblower revealed that the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) turned down offers from a local law enforcement partner to utilize drone technology for securing the July 13 rally where an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump occurred.
Shooter Used Own Drone: Despite the Secret Service's refusal to use drone technology, the shooter used a drone to surveil the area just hours before Trump took the stage, as disclosed by FBI Director Christopher Wray during House Judiciary Committee testimony.
Sen. Hawley's Demands for Accountability: Senator Josh Hawley has called for all records and communications regarding drone use at the rally to be provided within seven days and has demanded that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testify before Congress about the security failures.
Full Report:
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) revealed in a letter on Thursday that a whistleblower informed him the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) declined offers from a local law enforcement partner to use drone technology to secure the July 13 rally, where an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump took place.
Hawley’s letter, addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, highlighted the troubling details provided by the whistleblower:
“According to one whistleblower, the night before the rally, U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied offers from a local law enforcement partner to utilize drone technology to secure the rally. This means that the technology was both available to USSS and able to be deployed to secure the site. Secret Service said no. The whistleblower further alleges that after the shooting took place, USSS changed course and asked the local partner to deploy the drone technology to surveil the site in the aftermath of the attack.”
The Secret Service has yet to explain the absence of drone surveillance, which could have potentially detected the sniper climbing to a rooftop and positioning himself before firing at Trump.
Despite the Secret Service's refusal to use drone technology, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the shooter used a drone to surveil the area just hours before Trump took the stage.
“This raises an obvious question: why was the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) not using its own drones?” Hawley questioned Mayorkas. He further added:
“It is hard to understand why USSS would decline to use drones when they were offered, particularly given the fact USSS permitted the shooter to overfly the rally area with his own drone mere hours before the event. The failure to deploy drone technology is all the more concerning since, according to the whistleblower, the drones USSS was offered had the capability not only to identify active shooters but also to help neutralize them.”
Hawley has requested all records and communications regarding the availability or use of drones at the rally within seven days from his letter. He also demanded that Mayorkas testify before Congress next week about these significant security lapses.
“The American people deserve answers about your historic failure to protect former President Trump on July 13, 2024,” Hawley concluded.
Original Story by Kristina Wong, Breitbart