WASHINGTON — Minutes after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump, the Secret Servicecharged with protecting American political figures, found himself in the firing line of criticism.
The president of the country, the democrat Joe Biden, announced on Sunday that it had ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances of the attack.
The methods, organization and resources of the Secret Service will be examined.
Many are wondering why the building from whose roof the attacker fired was outside the “perimeter” of the Secret Service and was guarded by local police.
The investigation
The Biden administration insists that the investigation will be “independent” and will begin in the coming days, but expressed “confidence” in the director of the Secret Service.
The device of security Donald Trump’s stance was adjusted after the assassination attempt.
The investigation “will examine the actions of the Secret Service before, during and after the assassination attempt,” the Homeland Security secretary said.
The goal is to “establish what corrective measures are necessary to ensure that the unerring mission of protecting the nation’s leaders is carried out as effectively as possible,” Mayorkas said.
He mentioned the possibility of asking Congress for additional resources so that the Secret Service would be less dependent on local police.
Does the Secret Service alone protect senior politicians?
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle took responsibility for the incident in an interview broadcast Monday on ABC.
But he confirmed that the building where the attacker was located was located on the “outer perimeter” of the rally, under the responsibility of local police and not the Secret Service.
“Local police were present in this area,” he said, without explaining how the shooter had managed to climb onto the roof unhindered. Local police said they were in charge of traffic.
During a presidential campaign, the Secret Service uses “the resources of not only the federal government, but also state and local law enforcement,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday.
Who does it protect?
The Secret Service provides lifelong protection to current and former presidents, their families, and children of former presidents up to age 16.
Its agents also ensure the security of foreign heads of state and government on official visits or at major national or international events in the United States.
What are your missions?
It was initially created to combat counterfeiting, but after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, it was entrusted with the protection of the president, the vice president and their families, both in the United States and abroad.
In accordance with its primary mission, the Secret Service protects the U.S. financial and monetary system from financial and electronic fraud and counterfeiting of currency and bank cards.
It has around 3,200 special agents, known throughout the world for their dark glasses, headphones and suits, 1,300 uniformed personnel and more than 2,000 technicians and administrators.
Who is accountable to?
The Secret Service was part of the Department of the Treasury from its creation in 1865 until it became part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003.
Several parliamentary committees have requested the presence of the Secret Service in the coming weeks.
The Republican chairman of the House Investigations Committee has scheduled a hearing with Cheatle for July 22.
Source: With information from AFP
