Secret Service, Law Enforcement Under Scrutiny for Shooter Response at Trump Rally

New details about last weekend’s shooting at a Trump rally were reported on Monday by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe, intensifying scrutiny of their respective organizations and their leadership.

Key Details: Cheatle told ABC News (Lean Left bias):

• The Secret Service was aware that the building was a security vulnerability, but decided to station officers inside the building only since the slope of the roof was a “safety factor” for officers.
• A local police officer noticed Crooks carrying a rangefinder and alerted colleagues 30 minutes before the shooting.

Slupe told Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV (Not Rated):

• While one local officer was pulling himself onto the roof by his arms, Crooks turned his rifle on the officer, who let go and fell to the ground.

Key Quote: "I would have done the same thing, absolutely," Sheriff Slupe said. "I mean, people think the officers are supermen like you hold on the roof with one hand while you are hanging on for dear life and pull a gun out. It doesn't work that way."

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum were critical of the Secret Service and local law enforcement. New York Post (Lean Right) wrote an article alleging that First Lady Jill Biden had personally advocated for Cheatle’s appointment. Many Right-biased outlets wrote Cheatle’s first name as “Kim,” an informal-sounding nickname that could convey incompetence; outlets on the left called her “Kimberly.”