WASHINGTON — Stunning failures and inexcusable negligence by the Secret Service allowed then-Republican presidential candidateDonald Trumpto be shot at duringa Pennsylvania rallylast year, according to a scathingSenate committee reportreleased on the anniversary of theassassination attempt. The Secret Service did not act on credible intelligence and failed to appropriately communicate with local law enforcement and Trump's protective detail ahead of the July 13, 2024, event in Butler, Pennsylvania, the report released by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul said. "This was not a single lapse in judgment. It was a complete breakdown of security at every level—fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats,"Paul, a Republican U.S. senator who represents Kentucky, said. "We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again." The report details threats against Trump and errors that the committee said resulted in thenear assassinationof a major party's presidential candidate, the death of rallygoer Corey Comperatore, and injuries to two other attendees. The committee assessed that the failures culminated in a "preventable tragedy," for which the agency has been insufficiently held accountable. Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, and six individuals received disciplinary action in the wake of the shooting that injured two additional attendees, the report said. But no one was fired, and the penalties were weaker than what the committee said it would have recommended. "Some of these people could be in charge of security for another presidential candidate. And really, that's a danger. That's not right," Paul said on the CBS show "Face the Nation." In the appearance, Paul said Cheatle "did not tell the truth" when she told Congress that no assets that were requested for the Butler rally were denied. He also said that counter-snipers were denied until the Butler rally. The report said that at least 10 requests by the division protecting Trump were denied or left unfulfilled during the presidential campaign. "I think it was a cultural cover-up for the agency. They did not want to assess blame. They did not want to look internally. And they wanted to discount any of their actions that might have led to this," Paul said on the CBS program. 'Saved for a reason':How Trump's second term is full of assassination attempt reminders In response to the report, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement provided to USA TODAY that the agency would continue to cooperate with the committee. "Following the events of July 13, the Secret Service took a serious look at our operations and implemented substantive reforms to address the failures that occurred that day," Curran said. The agency last week acknowledged"breakdowns in communication, technological issues, and human failure, among other contributing factors, led to the events of July 13." The attack was "nothing short of a tragedy" and "represents an operational failure," the Secret Service said. Since then, the agency said it has revised and streamlined its practices and requested additional resources to address recommendations made by Congress. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Senate report on Trump shooting accuses Secret Service of negligence
