Multiple U.S. Secret Service agents have been placed on leave following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last month, media outlets reported on Friday.
Fox and CBS reported that at least five Secret Service members involved in the incident, including the head of the Secret Service's Pittsburgh office, had been put on leave.
Security at the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been under scrutiny, with serious concerns about how the suspect was able to access a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to where Republican presidential nominee Trump was speaking.
The Secret Service has said it was "ashamed" of the security lapse and its chief stepped down in the aftermath of the assassination attempt.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi did not confirm whether the agents were placed on leave but said "we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure" and "any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action."
Trump was shot in the ear, a rally attendee was killed and two others were wounded in the shooting. FBI officials have yet to identify a motive for the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, who was shot dead by a Secret Service agent after opening fire.
Following the attack, the Secret Service recommended that Trump avoid large outdoor events. Trump subsequently said he would continue outdoor rallies and that the Secret Service had "agreed to substantially step up their operation" to protect him.
Trump spoke from behind a shield of bulletproof glass in North Carolina on Wednesday, his first outdoor rally since the attack.
Latest Stories
-
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
45 mins -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
59 mins -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
1 hour -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
1 hour -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
1 hour -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
1 hour -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
1 hour -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
2 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
2 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
2 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
2 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
3 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
3 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
4 hours -
#TheManifestoDebate: We’ll provide potable water, expand water distribution network – NDC
4 hours