PA Trump Assassination Attempt: Secret Service Criticized Over Redacted Documents
“[The] toxicology report; we don’t have any of the trajectory reports. So, where’d the bullets go? We don’t even know how they handled the crime scene.”
Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal has already let everyone know his feelings towards the Secret Service and DHS regarding the investigation into the security failings leading to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Blumenthal did not hold back—twice. He lashed out at the USSS and DHS for stonewalling Congress, even saying the details would outrage the American people.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressed the same frustrations on Wednesday:
“Things like the autopsy report, you know, the House has it under subpoena. We don’t have it,” he told reporters.
“[The] toxicology report; we don’t have any of the trajectory reports. So, where’d the bullets go? We don’t even know how they handled the crime scene,” said Johnson, ranking member of the HSGAC Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI).
The senator pointed to the amount of time that has passed since the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump, noting, “There’s just basic information we should have right now, and we don’t have it.”
“We haven’t been able to interview the sniper who took out [Thomas] Crooks,” Johnson said. Crooks is the would-be assassin that, during the July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, opened fire, grazing the former president’s ear, killing a rally attendee and critically injuring two others.
The shooter murdered Corey Comperatore and injured David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.
The FBI hasn’t given the senators its FD-302 forms, which agents use when performing interviews.
In July, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate told Johnson the agency would give the documents to him as soon as possible.
The FBI hasn’t handed over any FD-302 forms.
“They’ve done 1,000 interviews. We’ve done 12,” said Johnson.
The recent briefing only included “heavily redacted” documents.
Johnson said he’s “never seen this” before:
Noting that it wasn’t his “first rodeo,” Johnson recalled that redactions are normally black, blocking out certain parts of text. “These are just whiteouts.”
“So, I don’t know. Was it just a single word?” he asked.
He said in some cases it wasn’t evident whether something had been obscured in the documents or not due to the white redactions.
“That’s the level of opacity that we’re getting in terms of their lack of cooperation with our investigation,” Johnson added.
I imagine the senators have even more urgency and frustrations since Trump faced another attempt in Florida.
Thank goodness a USSS agent noticed Ryan Routh’s gun and thwarted any attempt on Trump’s life.
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
I think the Senators are a bit scared – even the Dems – because they know a politicized USSS could put them at risk.
using my special decoder ring I can see what the redacted parts stated:
call nancy and hillary immediately after the job
You forgot Dr jill
dr jill is
just an idea
This is much like JFK, covering their dirty deed asses.
How soon before the DOJ redacts Routh?
In a week or so, the meme “Routh did not kill himself” will be in circulation.
Redact didn’t use to be a common word. Media use started around Nixon.
So did “nonoperative,” as applied to government statements.
Congress has the power to force compliance. To wit:
“The offender, after being cited for contempt of Congress, is tried on the floor of the chamber of Congress invoking the power. If a majority affirms the contempt charge, they may instruct the Sergeant at Arms to arrest the offender and detain them until they comply with the subpoena or until the end of the session.”
https://www.findlaw.com/litigation/legal-system/contempt-of-congress-process-and-penalties.html
When someone (including government officials) refuses to answer questions, take him (or her) into custody immediately.
Congress also has the power of the purse. If the FBI or the Secret Service refuses to release documents cut their budget. If necessary zero it out. That will get attention. Congress is elected, Executive Branch bureaucrats are not. They are subordinate, and have no right to defy elected representives.
Of course all this requires a true opposition party which we don’t have. The Republicans, besides being poltroons and manifestly stupid, are mostly Democrats in pretense. Otherwise Congress could get what it wants.
One wonders how the FBI, US-SS etc., would behave differently, if the assassination attempts were on Democrats, FBI or US-SS members, etc.
the Paul Pelosi case proceeded through the courts fairly quickly
The FBI and SS not honoring subpoenas or furnishing evidence to Congress is them merely trying to exercise their rights under the Fifth Amendment. That, and they are making such a practice SOP.
Subotai Bahadur
When they refuse to testify before Congress they should be fired and loose their pension.
Thank goodness a USSS agent noticed Ryan Routh’s gun and thwarted any attempt on Trump’s life.
If the assassin had been competent he would have bee hidden until it was time too take the shot.