A whistleblower informed Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) that the Secret Service declined offers for drone surveillance from local law enforcement before the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The night before the rally, the Secret Service repeatedly refused to use the offered drones, despite their availability for securing the event. After the shooting, they requested drone deployment to survey the site.
Hawley wrote to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding all records and communications about the availability and use of drones at the rally. He questioned why the Secret Service allowed the shooter to use his drone near the rally but did not use their own. The offered drones could have identified and neutralized active shooters, raising concerns about significant security lapses.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had flown a drone near the rally site hours before the attack, possibly livestreaming the event. The drone was recovered from Crooks’ vehicle. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified before Congress and resigned the next day. She defended the agency’s mission but acknowledged failures in security measures.
Hawley has called for Mayorkas to testify before Congress about these security failures, emphasizing the need to address these issues to prevent future incidents. The revelation has sparked a debate about the effectiveness and preparedness of the Secret Service in protecting high-profile political figures. This incident underscores the critical importance of utilizing available technology to enhance security at political events.