Former President Donald Trump is again at the center of a failed assassination plot after an ambush at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
On the afternoon of Sept. 15, a gunman was spotted by the Secret Service approximately 300 yards away from Trump outside of the fencing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The agent fired rounds toward the individual who then fled out of the shrubbery and into a getaway vehicle. An eyewitness was able to recount the details of the encounter in cooperation with the investigation.
“Fortunately, we were able to locate a witness that came to us and said they saw the guy running out of the bushes and jumped into a black Nissan. They took a picture of the vehicle and tag.” – Ric Bradshaw, West Palm Beach Sheriff
The suspect Ryan Routh, 58, was taken into custody by Martin County police after he was located in a vehicle on I-95 that fit the description and tag information. The bodycam footage that has since been released showed him surrounded by multiple officers who arrested him without incident.
The Secret Service is now under scrutiny for the security measures taken on the perimeter of the golf course. Just two months ago, Thomas Matthew Crooks came inches away from taking the former president’s life at a political rally, putting the agency under the scope once again. President Joe Biden commented on the matter insisting the Secret Service “needs more help” after being briefed on the development in the moments following the attack. Retired Secret Service Agent Brian Morgan, who served on Joe Biden’s detail while he was Vice President, agreed with his remark.
“There’s definitely a shortage of resources within the agency, even with heightened alert on former President Trump’s life after the attack a few months ago. With the election only weeks away, the protection has to be stricter than ever for the sake of our country.” – Brian Morgan, Retired Secret Service Agent
The first assassination attempt against Trump resulted in the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. She was met with bipartisan congressional backlash for the security breach in which the would-be assassin was perched on top of a roof with a clear line of sight on Donald Trump while he was speaking in front of supporters.
There are growing calls for transparency of the FBI in the two ongoing investigations of attacks against Trump. U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jason Crow (D-CO) who lead the task force investigating the events on July 13 are now seeking answers in the probe of circumstances that occurred early last week.