Secret Service allegedly drags feet on first Trump assassination attempt info — lawsuit holds feet to fire



The America First Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit Thursday afternoon against the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, accusing the agencies of "illegally concealing government records" by slow-walking Freedom of Information Act requests it filed in July and August following the first attempted assassination of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump.

According to the lawsuit obtained by Blaze News, AFL opened an investigation into the deadly Butler, Pennsylvania, shooting on July 13. As part of its probe into the USSS' preparedness and response to the attack, AFL submitted several information requests to the DHS.

'Widespread and bipartisan acknowledgment that there were catastrophic failures.'

The agencies were asked to produce documents and records regarding communications on the day of the assassination attempt, calendar entries for some USSS and DHS personnel in the month leading up to the incident, and USSS' hiring and employment standards and staffing levels.

According to the complaint, all of the submitted FOIAs requested "expedited processing on the grounds that '[c]ircumstances in which the lack of expedited processing could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of [President Trump]'" and noted that there was also "an urgency to inform the public about an actual or alleged federal government activity, if made by a person who is primarily engaged in disseminating information."

AFL noted in its lawsuit that it received a letter from the USSS denying its request for expedited processing of information regarding the agency's staffing level.

The USSS allegedly told AFL that it had not "demonstrated that there is a threat to the life or physical safety of an individual nor [had AFL] demonstrated there is a particular urgency to inform the public about the government activity involved in the request, beyond the public's right to know about government activity, generally."

"Your letter was conclusory, in nature, and did not present any facts to justify a grant of expedited processing under the applicable standards," the agency reportedly responded.

On September 15, after the USSS told AFL that it failed to demonstrate that there was an imminent safety threat, a second attempt was made on Trump's life at his Florida golf course.

AFL Executive Director Gene Hamilton stated, "On July 13, the American people watched in horror as a lunatic attempted to assassinate former President, and current candidate for President, Donald Trump. Today, there is widespread and bipartisan acknowledgment that there were catastrophic failures that tragic day and in the weeks and months ahead of it."

"We are committed to obtaining these records so that the American people can see for themselves exactly what senior DHS leadership was prioritizing in its mission, and why more resources were not devoted to the protection of President Donald J. Trump," Hamilton added.

The USSS told Blaze News, "As a matter of longstanding policy, the U.S. Secret Service does not comment on pending or proposed litigation."

The DHS did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

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DHS refused to look into alleged would-be Trump assassin flagged on his way back from Ukraine: Report



The U.S. Secret Service admitted this week to failing to search the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before President Donald Trump hit the links on Sunday.

When pressed on why the Secret Service failed to spot a Democratic donor — known to the FBI — who apparently had camped out at the course for 12 hours with an SKS-style 7.62x39 caliber rifle, acting USSS Director Ronald Rowe blamed the intended target, telling reporters that Trump "wasn't supposed to have gone there in the first place."

While the USSS is facing criticism over its latest bungling of Trump's security, its parent agency also appears to have dropped the ball.

Just the News reported that Trump critic Alejandro Mayorkas' Department of Homeland Security was prompted to investigate suspected would-be assassin Ryan Routh upon his return home from Ukraine last year after U.S. border officials flagged him as suspect, but the agency didn't bother to act.

'Simply get all military gear and money.'

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly interviewed Routh at the Honolulu airport in June 2023. Officials knew of his travels to Poland, specifically to Warsaw near the Ukrainian border, as well as to Istanbul, Turkey. They were also aware of his efforts to recruit mercenaries from Taiwan, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and Moldova to fight in Ukraine against the Russians.

Blaze News previously noted that Routh ran a website called "Fight for Ukraine," which details various ways — including unlawful ways — people could supposedly go to fight as mercenaries in Ukraine.

"Simply get all military gear and money and fly to Krakow[, Poland]. Take an intercity train or bus to Przemyśl. Take a local train or bus to Medyka. Make your way to the border with Ukraine," wrote Routh.

While Routh was keen on having civilians from across the globe put their lives on the line in Ukraine, he never fought himself, reported the New York Times, whose reporter Thomas Gibbons-Neff first heard of Routh through a former Afghan special operations soldier in Iran.

Routh hatched a grand scheme to get militants fleeing the Taliban to go fight for Kiev. His X feed was littered with failed pleas to Western defense officials and organizations to allow such Afghan mercenaries into Ukraine.

Extra to attempting to recruit mercenaries, while in Ukraine, Routh also demonstrated in support of the Azov Brigade, an outfit associated with neo-Nazis since its inception.

The brigade said in a statement this week it "has no connection" to Routh and that rumors to the contrary are "playing along with Russian propaganda."

According the records reviewed by Just the News, Routh gave the border officials interviewing him a card stating that he was the director of a group called the "International Volunteer Center."

USA Today indicated Monday it tried calling a number associated with Routh and was greeted by a voicemail message identifying the number's owner as "Ryan in Hawaii," working with the "National Volunteer Center, sending soldiers to Ukraine, as well as Taiwan."

The International Volunteer Center in Ukraine made clear it hasn't worked with Routh, telling the New York Post, "We have been officially registered as an organization in Ukraine since October 2023. Prior to the recent developments, none of us had any knowledge of Mr. Routh or any other entity named the International Volunteer Center, aside from our own registered organization."

'There's one person you guys need to keep an eye on, because he's a ticking time bomb.'

Ukraine's foreign legion — which Routh frequently contacted — has characterized the suspected would-be assassin as a charlatan and denied his involvement in the unit.

According to CBP's memo pertaining to Routh's interview, "Subject is a USC who had traveled to Kiev, Ukraine for 3 months to help recruit Soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova, and Taiwan, to fight in the Ukrainian war against Russia."

"Subject stated that he does not get paid for his recruiting efforts and all his work for the Ukrainian government is strictly volunteer work Subject provided his recruiting business card (cards have been uploaded into the event) which list his recruiting partners that he speaks with to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Romanian, Pakistan, Syria, and Israel," continues the memo reviewed by Just the News. "Subject stated that he obtains money from his wife to help fund his trips to Ukraine."

The memo further stated that Routh was referred to the DHS' Homeland Security Investigations but that HSI declined to look into the matter.

"HSI was contacted and refused the case," said the memo.

When pressed for comment, the DHS referred Just the News to the FBI, which is overseeing the investigation into the assassination attempt.

The DHS also apparently failed to take action in response to another concerning report submitted by Chelsea Walsh, a nurse from West Palm Beach who encountered Routh in Kiev in 2022.

Walsh was so worried about Routh's volatile nature and threats of violence that she reported him to a CBP officer at Washington's Dulles airport in June 2022 after returning from Ukraine.

Walsh told WPTV-TV, "As a nurse, we are trained to detect when people are a threat to themselves or others, and I was beginning to realize more and more that Ryan was a threat to others."

At the airport, “[the agent] said that he represented Homeland Security and he was only interested in homeland security threats," said Walsh.

"I told him, 'Then there's one person you guys need to keep an eye on, because he's a ticking time bomb. His name is Ryan Routh, and he lives in Hawaii. He's coming back from Ukraine eventually, and someone needs to follow up with him.'"

Walsh said the DHS never followed up with her.

The FBI — whose agent in charge of the Miami field office, Jeffrey Veltri, was reportedly compelled to scrub his social media history because of his anti-Trump rhetoric — also appears to have let Routh slip off its radar.

Blaze News previously reported that the FBI received a complaint in 2019 that Routh had a firearm. Owing to Routh's felonious record, including a 2002 conviction on a possession of a weapon of mass destruction charge, the complaint would ostensibly have been grounds for an interview at the very least.

Veltri said at a press conference Monday, "When following up on the tip, the alleged complainant was interviewed and did not verify, I repeat, did not verify providing the initial information. The FBI passed that information on to local law enforcement in Honolulu."

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Sen. Blumenthal makes telling admission about forthcoming report on attempted Trump assassination



Following a closed-door meeting Thursday with acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) provided a chilling indication that the truth about the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump will leave the American public "shocked, astonished, and appalled."

Days after Trump was shot in Pennsylvania by an ActBlue donor who allegedly shared pro-Biden content online, U.S. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) announced that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was launching a bipartisan investigation into the security failures that led to bloodletting that occurred on July 13.

In the months since, members of the committee have conducted transcribed interviews with officials linked to the Butler rally.

Committee member Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) indicated this week, "There are more questions than answers at this point in our bipartisan Senate investigation of July 13th. We will continue to press the Secret Service and FBI for witnesses and documents."

'We are going to absolutely insist on the truth.'

Johnson noted further that the committee will issue a preliminary report in the "very near future."

Rowe gave members of both the House and Senate an update Thursday, which appears to have vexed some lawmakers.

Johnson referenced "some frustration that was voiced, I think, with Acting Director Rowe," reported the New York Post.

The briefing also appears to have left Blumenthal with the impression that the committee's forthcoming report will create serious waves. The Connecticut Democrat said that Americans will be shocked by what the report will say about "the failures of the Secret Service in this assassination attempt of a former president."

"But I think they also ought to be appalled and astonished by the failure of the Department of Homeland Security to be more forthcoming, to be as candid and frank as it should be to them in terms of providing information," added Blumenthal. "We are going to absolutely insist on the truth and the whole truth in documents and testimony."

When pressed about what he learned at the closed-door meeting, Blumenthal would not go into specifics. However, he reiterated that the report "will absolutely shock the American people — it should — about the lapses and lags in the protection of his supporters that day and the breakdown of communication."

Blaze News investigative reporter Steve Baker, who has dug deep into what happened July 13 along with reporter Joe Hanneman, cast doubt on whether the committee report will be as explosive as Blumenthal has suggested.

"Honestly, beyond the 'shock' of unprecedented incompetence by the USSS, I don't know what else they will have to show. Maybe the 'insinuation' of 'deliberate incompetence'?" said Baker. "Beyond that insinuation, I seriously doubt they will provide evidence of a conspiracy behind the assassination attempt."

"Blaze News' own expert sources are convinced there are specific signs of professional 'grooming' behind the actions of Thomas Crooks, but Crooks' groomers are part of a very small group. Likely no more than three operatives. No more than five people 'in the know,'" continued Baker. "These are the kind of operatives who will never talk. They themselves will likely believe they were doing the business of 'God and Country' in saving us from the 'democracy-destroying authoritarianism' of a second Trump administration."

As for reports out of Congress, Baker suggested that "we will only ever hear more statements and more questions about the gross 'failures' and 'incompetencies.' It will die there, short of some miraculous revelation or the emergence of an unlikely whistleblower from within our intelligence community."

The report may prove toothless; however, more officials involved in the July 13 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, may soon be out of work.

The Post noted that when asked whether more people should resign, Blumenthal replied, "Unquestionably and indisputably, there needs to be more accountability. People need to be held responsible."

"Without accountability, this kind of failure and lapse will happen again because there needs to be that sense that someone is the point person," added the Connecticut Democrat.

Sen. Paul told reporters after the briefing, "I think the people in charge of security that day shouldn't be doing it again."

Kimberly Cheatle resigned in disgrace as Secret Service director, despite initially signaling she intended to remain in the role, and a handful of agents were reportedly put on leave weeks later.

USSS Assistant Director Michael Plati is also stepping down.

A spokesman for Plati told Fox News this week, "Mike has been discussing this for more than a year. He's retiring on the date of his 27-year anniversary working for the Secret Service. He approached Acting Director [Ronald] Rowe about his retirement last month, before the DNC. He wasn't asked to retire or resign, and anyone saying otherwise is lying."

The Secret Service similarly suggested Plati "was not asked to resign or retire by anyone."

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Biden-Harris admin’s Secret Service pulls protection for RFK Jr. after he suspends campaign: ‘My life is in God’s hands'



As of Monday, the United States Secret Service will no longer provide protection to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I) after he recently suspended his presidential campaign to endorse former President Donald Trump.

The Biden-Harris administration previously repeatedly denied RFK Jr.'s request for Secret Service protection even though his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, were both assassinated.

'I'm going to do what I'm going to do, whether I have that or not.'

After five rejected requests, the federal government agreed to provide RFK Jr. with Secret Service protection following the July assassination attempt against Trump, who also called for the independent candidate to receive security.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a few days after the shooting, "In light of this weekend's events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr."

However, the protection did not last long. On Friday, RFK Jr. addressed his supporters, announcing that he would immediately suspend his campaign and throw his support behind Trump.

"In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control," RFK Jr. stated. "So I cannot, in good conscience, ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours, or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House."

During his Friday speech, RFK Jr. noted that he plans, and has already started, to suspend his campaign in key swing states that could take votes away from Trump and lead to a Harris victory. Voters in red and blue states will still see the independent candidate's name on the ballot, he noted.

The Secret Service pulled its protection just days later, RFK Jr.'s campaign confirmed.

RFK Jr. told Glenn Beck on Monday morning, "I'm going to do what I'm going to do, whether I have that or not."

"My life is in God's hands," he added.

He stated that it is "troubling for our country" that the Secret Service had initially refused to provide protection, calling it "part of the weaponization of the agencies, the politicization of the agencies."

When asked about his decision to support Trump, RFK Jr. stated that the two candidates found common ground in their shared goals to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, protect free speech, and solve chronic diseases.

Trump has stated that he would consider having RFK Jr. join his Cabinet; however, it is still unclear which position he would take.

Last week, Donald Trump Jr. told Glenn Beck that RFK Jr. "could be a really great asset" in his father's administration.

"I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up," he said. "I think that's what we need."

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Secret Service places at least 5 agents on leave weeks after Trump assassination attempt



The United States Secret Service has reportedly placed at least five agents on leave over the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Fox News confirmed that several agents were suspended from service amid an ongoing investigation. Those placed on leave included one member of Trump's personal protective team, the head of the Secret Service's Pittsburgh Field Office, and three other agents with the office.

'It wasn't just an attempt; he was literally shot.'

The assassination attempt occurred nearly six weeks ago where the shooter was able to fire off several rounds, resulting in a bullet grazing Trump's ear, the death of one attendee, and injuries to two other supporters in the crowd.

Less than two weeks after the shooting, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation following mounting criticism from Republicans and Democrats about the agency's slow response to the gunfire and failure to properly secure the area ahead of the event.

Anthony Guglielmi, U.S. Secret Service chief of communications, told Blaze News, "The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler, Pennsylvania and the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump."

"The U.S. Secret Service's mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure," Guglielmi continued.

"The U.S. Secret Service holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action," he added. "Given this is a personnel matter, we are not in a position to comment further."

Guglielmi did not confirm whether any agents were placed on leave.

CBS News reported that it is unclear whether the Secret Service members were placed on leave as disciplinary action or for other reasons amid the ongoing investigation.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) responded to reports that some action was taken against the Secret Service members involved in the planning of the Butler rally.

"There must be accountability at the Secret Service for its historic failures that led to the attempted assassination of President Trump," Comer stated. "Holding negligent employees accountable is the first step. I look forward to the Task Force's findings of its investigation. We must ensure the Secret Service does not fail again."

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also responded to the update, stating, "Suspending the Secret Service agents involved in this massive security failure is the least we could do — and it should have happened weeks ago."

"We still need real answers about the attempt on President Trump's life and accountability for everyone involved," Hawley added.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Fox News, "We're now 41 days removed from" the assassination attempt against Trump.

"It wasn't just an attempt; he was literally shot," Roy continued. "And it was by the grace of God that it wasn't a life threatening wound."

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Biden-appointed Secret Service director won't step down after Trump shooting



DEI and ensuring that women make up at least 30% of the department may be among the U.S. Secret Service's top priorities, but its core function is still ostensibly to "ensure the safety and security of [its] protectees, key locations, and events of national significance."

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, 53, acknowledged in an interview Monday that her agency failed to execute this core function at the Trump rally over the weekend — where the former president was grazed by one of a hail of bullets and a beloved father of two was slain in the stands.

While Cheatle admitted failure and told ABC News that the "buck stops with me," the director revealed that her ownership of fault effectively means nothing.

Sources close to the Biden family recently told the New York Post that Cheatle, who previously served in the Secret Service for 27 years, then briefly ran global security for PepsiCo., secured the favor of Jill Biden and her advisers, including Anthony Bernal.

"Cheatle served on Dr. Biden's second lady detail and Anthony pushed for her," a Democratic insider told the Post. "Anthony has no national security or law enforcement experience. He should have no influence over the selection of the USSS director."

Another insider said, "I heard at the time [Cheatle] was being considered for director that Anthony had pushed her forward as an option."

"Anthony is obsessed with being DEI-compliant," a third source told the Post.

President Joe Biden appointed Cheatle to lead the agency in 2022.

'What I was seeing was DEI.'

Biden said at the time, "She is a distinguished law enforcement professional with exceptional leadership skills and was easily the best choice to lead the agency at a critical moment for the Secret Service. She has my complete trust, and I look forward to working with her."

It appears that Biden's confidence was again misplaced.

"It was a total security breakdown from start to finish," former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told the Post. "From the total security plan for the rally to the reaction once the shots rang out."

"What I was seeing was DEI," continued Swecker. "The women I saw up there with the president — they looked like they were running in circles. One didn’t know how to holster, the other one didn’t seem to know what to do, and another one seemed not to be able to find her holster. DEI is one thing. Competence and effectiveness is another, and I saw DEI out there."

"It was obviously a situation that, as a Secret Service agent, no one ever wants to occur in their career," Cheatle told ABC News.

When asked who bore most responsibility for the security failure, Cheatle said, "What I would say is the Secret Service is responsible for the protection of the former president."

"The buck stops with me," continued Cheatle. "I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary."

"It was unacceptable, and it's something that shouldn't happen again," added Cheatle.

Despite admitting responsibility for this "unacceptable" failure, Cheatle said she does "plan to stay on" in her role.

Various lawmakers and officials have called on Cheatle to step down.

'There was a complete breakdown of communication all the way down the line.'

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), for instance, refrained from criticizing the agents on the ground who threw themselves on President Donald Trump when the bullets started flying but insisted that the "head of the Secret Service should resign over this."

Cruz also latched on to Cheatle's characterization of Trump simply as a "former president," noting Trump is "the first in modern history to run for president again, and he has been the focus of several prosecutions and controversies — understatement intentional."

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told cable news, "There was a complete breakdown of communication all the way down the line, and so that starts at the top. The head of the Secret Service needs to go. That's obvious. But I doubt that will happen."

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) introduced the Secret Service Accountability Act Monday to hold Cheatle accountable "for the agency's incompetence and failure to protect President Trump during the Butler, Pennsylvania, campaign rally."

"Saturday's assassination attempt on President Trump's life was either intentional or the result of gross incompetence by the United States Secret Service," Boebert said in a statement. "Under Director Cheatle's failed leadership, the United States Secret Service has prioritized woke DEI policies over the core responsibilities of the Secret Service, including protecting our nation's leaders. This lack of leadership contributed to the first assassination attempt of a President in 43 years. Director Cheatle has got to go!"

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has asked Cheatle to provide information related to the incident, including:

  • a complete list of all law enforcement personnel with roles in protecting Trump at the rally;
  • all audio and video recordings in the possession of the Secret Service related to the rally;
  • all memos and or notices issued by Cheatle to Secret Service personnel regarding the assassination attempt; and
  • other intel and correspondences related to the rally and assassination attempt.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters days after Trump was shot on Cheatle's watch that he has "100% confidence in the director of the United States Secret Service."

Cheatle has in turn expressed her confidence in the security plan for the Secret Service at the Republican National Convention.

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