Scrutiny Grows After WHCD Attack; Secret Service Defends Security Posture
Briefings are underway across the federal government following the attempted attack targeting President Trump during Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) at the Washington Hilton.
This as top officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Secret Service push back on criticism, saying security measures functioned as designed.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran is making the rounds on Capitol Hill, already meeting with leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Oversight Committee.
Director Curran told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he saw “no indication” of a security lapse. That’s according to Committee Ranking Democrat Dick Durbin (D-IL).
“It’s a challenge to bring that many people, 2,500 or whatever the number was … but they gave us a good explanation,” said Senator Durbin.
That was echoed by Chairman Chuck Grassley.
“The Secret Service is going to review everything that they did,” said Senator Grassley (R-IA), “and if changes need to be made, changes will be made.”
Director Curran is also expected to meet with other committees in the coming days.
White House to Review Procedures
At the White House, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will reportedly hold a meeting this week with top officials from DHS, the Secret Service, and White House operations to discuss current security procedures.
USA Today reported the meeting will look at what worked and what didn’t and do “everything possible to secure the major events planned for the country’s (250th) anniversary.”
The briefings come as scrutiny continues over the decision not to designate the event as a National Special Security Event (NSSE), a status that typically triggers enhanced federal coordination when the president and other senior officials are in attendance.
Secret Service Director Curran said that is something that will be considered.
“I’ll tell you what. We’ll assess every event and see if that deserves the designation. But we’ll do it by case-by-case basis,” said Director Curran.
Meanwhile, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said law enforcement did its job effectively, despite criticism the alleged assassin was able to get as close as he was.
"I want to make this clear. This man was a floor above the ballroom with hundreds of federal agents between him and the president of the United States," said Acting Attorney General Blanche. "Law enforcement did not fail. They did exactly what they are trained to do."
Calls for Outside Probe
Despite briefings being launched across government, there are calls for an outside probe.
Former Secret Service Director John Magaw said an outside review is the “right thing to do.”
"You don't want to investigate it yourself. The public won't believe it,” said Magaw.
Agent Reportedly Hit by Suspect’s Shot
As for the law enforcement investigation, news reports say that the shot that struck a secret service officer outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, was fired by suspect Cole Allen, and was not friendly fire.
CBS News reports that a total of six shots were fired, including one from the suspect and the other five from a Secret Service officer. The officer who was hit was not seriously injured.
Allen is charged with one count of attempted assassination of the president, interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.
