WASHINGTON: A number of US Secret Service agents have been placed on leave following the assassination attempt against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, US media reported on Friday.

The agents put on leave include members of the Pittsburgh field office, which coordinated security for Trump’s July 13 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, several US TV networks said.

The Secret Service declined to comment on what it described as a “personnel matter”, but said it is “committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler”.

“The US Secret Service’s mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure,” spokesman Anthony Gug­lielmi said in a statement.

“The US Secret Service holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of the policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsi­bility for potential disciplinary action,” he said.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resig­ned last month after acknowledging that the agency had failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt by a 20-year-old gunman.

Trump was wounded in the ear, two rally attendees were seriously injured and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was killed before a Secret Service sniper shot the gunman dead.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...