The Senate of the United States released a report on July 13th, local time, which indicates that the shooting at a campaign rally in Battelle, Pennsylvania, on July 13th last year was due to “a series of preventable safety oversights.” The report harshly criticizes the Department of Homeland Security for its “disorganization,” including the failure to discipline those responsible after the attack.
On July 13th, 2024, a 20-year-old gunman named Thomas Matthew Crux shot and wounded President Trump’s ear during the rally, resulting in one fatality and two injuries among the attendees. This report, published a year after the incident, accuses the DHS of numerous lapses and communication breakdowns during the planning and execution of the event.
Republican Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, stated, “This is not just a judgment error but a complete collapse of the security system at all levels—apathy, lack of clear procedures, and an astonishing disregard for direct threats, all contributing to this tragedy.”
Ten days after the shooting, former Director of the DHS, Christopher Wray, resigned under public pressure. The DHS recently announced that six特工 officers have been suspended for varying periods ranging from 10 to 42 days.
However, the Senate Committee believes that the number of personnel who should be punished far exceeds six, with two of the punished officers receiving lighter penalties than recommended standards, and specifically mentioning “no one has been dismissed.” Sean Colrane, the current Director of the DHS, responded by saying, “I have received the report and will continue to cooperate with the investigation.” Colrane mentioned, “After the incident, we have thoroughly reviewed the operational mechanisms of the DHS and implemented substantive reforms to address the issues exposed.” (Liu Xu)