Former FBI Deputy Director Frank Figliuzzi on Wednesday criticized the Secret Service's response to Saturday's shooting of former President Donald Trump.
A 20-year-old man named Thomas Michael Crooks climbed to the roof of a building near Trump's Pennsylvania rally, putting himself within range of Trump's rifle. Ana Cabrera Report's Figliuzzi said the assassination attempt hinged on the Secret Service choosing to keep the building out of its surveillance range. (Related: Good news for victim shot in chest and liver during assassination attempt on President Trump)
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'This is their fault': Ex-FBI agent slams Secret Service for avoiding blame in Trump shooting pic.twitter.com/lZY8dCekwv
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“What we saw on Saturday was no indication of increased security or heightened security. It looked like they were trying to counter a state-sponsored terrorist state and attack what they were protecting,” Figliuzzi said. “This all hinges on the Secret Service's decision to place the building outside of the security zone, and it sounds like they've essentially pulled out of the building. This makes absolutely no sense, especially as we know about foreign state-sponsored threats and this has to be taken seriously.”
According to reports, US authorities knew about the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump before Saturday's assassination attempt and the Secret Service had increased security for the former president. It is not known whether the alleged Iranian plot is linked to Saturday's assassination attempt.
“It's not enough for the police to say it wasn't our building. Blame them. They are responsible for this decision,” he continued, “and that decision was wrong.”
Crooks shot Trump, grazing him in the ear as he was speaking at the rally, leading critics to accuse the Secret Service of failing to secure the rally.
CNN law enforcement reporter Whitney Wilde asked US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle whether they had stepped up “all elements” of security for President Trump in light of the Iran plot.
“The increase that we provided was what we felt was appropriate for the former president and the particular event on that day,” Cheatle responded. “We have increased the assets, resources and staff that we have provided to the former president since he was a candidate for president and then when he was a candidate for the nomination. That's all I can say.”
Wilde said Cheatle's response “sounds like a no.”
“I'm never saying no,” Cheatle said, “I'm just saying we continue to increase the resources that we've been providing.”
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Tuesday that reports of the Iranian plot gave Saturday's assassination attempt “even more prominence.”
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