U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking clarification on whistleblower information that suggests law enforcement personnel were assigned to be on the roof of a building during President Trump’s rally in Butler, PA, where an attempted assassination occurred. The post was reportedly abandoned.
“Contrary to Director Cheatle’s public statements about the ‘safety’ of the sloped roof of American Glass Research Building 6, one whistleblower with direct knowledge of Secret Service planning for the event alleges that there was supposed to be a law enforcement presence on the roof that day […] but this person abandoned his or her post due to the hot weather,” wrote Senator Hawley.
“The whistleblower further alleges that concerns over the heat prompted law enforcement to forego patrolling Building 6 and instead to station security personnel inside the building,” Senator Hawley continued.
On Friday, Senator Hawley visited the scene in Butler, PA following the attempted assassination of President Trump. Multiple whistleblowers have come forward confirming that the event was considered a ‘loose’ security event. As a result, Senator Hawley has demanded that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee launch a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the incident with sworn testimony from DHS and Secret Service officials.
Read the full letter below:
July 22, 2024
The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE
Washington, D.C. 20528
Dear Secretary Mayorkas:
Since my last correspondence to you on July 19, additional whistleblowers have contacted my office with troubling information about the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump.
Contrary to Director Cheatle’s public statements about the “safety” of the sloped roof of American Glass Research Building 6, one whistleblower with direct knowledge of Secret Service planning for the event alleges that there was supposed to be a law enforcement presence on the roof that day. In fact, the whistleblower alleges that at least one individual was specifically assigned to the roof for the duration of the rally, but this person abandoned his or her post due to hot weather. The whistleblower further alleges that concerns over heat prompted law enforcement to forego patrolling Building 6 and instead station security personnel inside the building.
Additionally, I have heard from a DHS official that Homeland Security Investigations has nearly completed a report on its personnel’s involvement in providing security for the July 13 rally. Please furnish a copy of this report to my office immediately.
To inform ongoing investigations, please respond to the following questions by no later than July 26, 2024:
If the whistleblower’s allegations are accurate, when did the individual abandon their post?
Which law enforcement units were assigned to the roof? Please provide all security plans indicating which units were assigned to both roof and building.
Did any law enforcement personnel fail to report to their assigned stations that day?
I await your response.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
United States Senator
CC:
The Honorable Kimberly A. Cheatle
Director
U.S. Secret Service
245 Murray Ln SW, Building T-5
Washington, D.C. 20223
