(The Center Square) – The U.S. Secret Service, not local police, bears responsibility for the unmanned roof where a gunman tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday.
So says Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, who represents the commonwealth’s ninth congressional district that stretches roughly 200 miles south from the northeastern New York border to Harrisburg.
“Come on, the Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president,” he told The Center Square during an interview Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “It should have been planned. It should have been managed. It should have been executed and it shouldn’t have happened.”
Earlier this week, authorities said local law enforcement should have safeguarded the building 125 yards from the rally stage, outside of the perimeter for federal agents.
Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle later said the slope of the roof made it too dangerous to station a sniper on, drawing widespread criticism as questions swirl about multiple security failures that allowed 20-year-old Thomas Crooks to belly crawl into position and fire at Trump.
“What we are hearing about the lapse in security is very disturbing,” Meuser said. “Very, very disappointing to say the least.”
The congressman also praised 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed while shielding his family, as “a great man.” Two more victims, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were wounded.
Meuser believes the tragedy, however, has galvanized support for the former president, who reportedly rewrote his Thursday night convention speech to express more unity.
“I think a lot of people, and I got all kinds of calls coming in, that wow if that’s what President Donald Trump is made of, he’s my guy,” he said.
