Secret Service ‘Totally Accountable’ for Butler, Deputy Director Says

The Secret Service is “totally accountable” for the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, of now-President Donald Trump, the agency’s deputy director told CBS News.

“Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Matt Quinn said. “Butler was an operational failure and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again.”

The Secret Service suspended six personnel without pay following intense scrutiny caused by the assassination attempt against Trump at a rally last July.

On July 13, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire during a campaign rally, and a bullet grazed Trump’s ear. A firefighter in the audience, Corey Comperatore, was shot and killed.

A few weeks later, a second assassination attempt occurred at the president’s golf course in Palm Beach, Florida, catalyzing the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and multiple investigations and congressional hearings.

The suspended employees’ penalties ranged from 10 to 42 days of leave without pay or benefits. The personnel were placed into restricted duty or roles with less operational responsibility when they came back to work, Quinn told CBS.  

“We are laser-focused on fixing the root cause of the problem,” Quinn said.

“We aren’t going to fire our way out of this,” Quinn added. “We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation.” 

To remedy one of those deficiencies exposed by the Butler assassination attempt, the Secret Service has introduced a new fleet of military-grade drones and mobile command posts so agents can communicate over radio directly with local law enforcement.