Hawley demands answers over alleged Secret Service lapses at Trump rally

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot

By Show-Me State Times

Jul 19, 2024

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has written a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding answers regarding the U.S. Secret Service’s security measures at former President Donald Trump’s rally on July 13. The letter follows multiple whistleblower reports received by Senator Hawley's office alleging significant lapses in security during the event.

“Whistleblowers who have direct knowledge of the event have approached my office. According to the allegations, the July 13 rally was considered to be a ‘loose’ security event,” wrote Senator Hawley.

“For example, detection canines were not used to monitor entry and detect threats in the usual manner. Individuals without proper designations were able to gain access to backstage areas. Department personnel did not appropriately police the security buffer around the podium and were also not stationed at regular intervals around the event’s security perimeter,” he continued.

Senator Hawley, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee which oversees DHS operations, has called for a comprehensive investigation into these claims. Following the assassination attempt against President Trump, he demanded that his committee conduct an investigation with sworn testimony from DHS and Secret Service officials. This investigation was confirmed this week and will include public testimony from agency leadership.

Additionally, Senator Hawley has established a whistleblower tip line within his office to protect those providing information about the incident. He has also sent oversight letters to both the DHS Inspector General and BlackRock’s CEO requesting records related to the security failures on July 13.

The full text of Senator Hawley's letter is as follows:

July 19, 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:

I write to raise concerns brought to me by whistleblowers about your department’s stunning failure to protect former President Trump on July 13, 2024. As Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), you are ultimately responsible for your agency and its components, including the U.S. Secret Service (USSS).

Whistleblowers who have direct knowledge of the event have approached my office. According to the allegations, the July 13 rally was considered to be a ‘loose’ security event. For example, detection canines were not used to monitor entry and detect threats in the usual manner. Individuals without proper designations were able to gain access to backstage areas. Department personnel did not appropriately police the security buffer around the podium and were also not stationed at regular intervals around the event’s security perimeter.

In addition, whistleblower allegations suggest that most DHS officials present were from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) rather than USSS agents—raising concerns given HSI agents' unfamiliarity with standard protocols typically used at such events.

As a Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee overseeing your department, I will continue investigating these staggering security failures on July 13th. Unfortunately, your department has been less than forthcoming with Congress—abruptly ending a call with USSS before most senators could ask questions—which is unacceptable and contrary to public interest in transparency.

We have learned more from whistleblowers than from your department's officials so far. I will continue protecting their anonymity and confidentiality under law as we investigate further into this matter.

Please provide responses within seven days addressing:

1. How DHS determined staffing for this event.

2. The percentage of DHS agents from HSI versus USSS.

3. Whether HSI agents received proper training for such events.

4. Any gaps in security protocols including use of canines and magnetometers.

5. Stationing protocols around podiums.

6. Protocols for issuing designated pins for vetted personnel backstage.

7 How long agents spent surveying site before event; any paperwork obligations affecting this survey duration?

Awaiting your response,

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley

United States Senator