The further removed we get from Saturday's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the more questions arise in terms of the cascade of security failures that seem to have brought the nation within millimeters of a horrifically dark outcome, though the loss of Corey Comparatore and the injuries to other attendees are horrific enough. 

In the wake of the attempt, there are myriad concerns regarding the competency of the U.S. Secret Service and what led to such a breakdown. The oversight committees in the U.S. House began requesting information and documentation almost immediately.

GOP Oversight Chair Denounces Shooting As 'Unamerican and Unacceptable,'
Requests Secret Service Briefing

GOP House Oversight Demanding Extensive Secret Service, DHS Records, Comms Around Saturday's Trump Rally

House Oversight Chair Issues Subpoena for Secret Service Director
to Appear for Briefing on Shooting

Now, per House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), whistleblowers have come forward to shed light on why the Secret Service may not have been operating at full strength on the day of the rally. 

Whistleblowers reveal Secret Service was understaffed at Trump rally because the agency was covering the NATO summit in D.C.

Americans deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/5QpeGTYANS

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 18, 2024

Jordan fired off a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday outlining specific topics the committee wishes to cover with Wray when he testifies before them on July 24 and requesting certain documents. 

In the letter, Jordan also lays out some troubling information brought to the committee by whistleblowers:

Whistleblowers have disclosed to the Committee that the USSS led two briefings regarding the July 13 campaign rally on July 8, 2024, with the Western Pennsylvania Fusion Center (WPFC) and other stakeholders, to discuss the upcoming, unrelated visits by President Trump and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. The USSS Special Agent in Charge Tim Burke reportedly told law enforcement partners that the USSS had limited resources that week because the agency was covering the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, D.C. FBI personnel were present at those briefings. While the Committee recognizes that the FBI is one of many agencies represented in the WPFC, it is the lead federal investigative arm and a key source of intelligence on potential threats for special events in its area of responsibility.

While it seems like it was a lifetime ago, the NATO Summit took place in D.C. from July 9 to July 11. Remember: President Joe Biden's "Big Boy presser" was just a week ago at the close of the summit. 

If the information from the whistleblowers is accurate, the Secret Service knew ahead of time that it was stretched thin due to the summit, knew that there were competing events involving the first lady and former president requiring stepped-up security, and the FBI was aware of the understaffing. Yet, in spite of recent intelligence assessments regarding a plot to assassinate Trump, they just sort of shrugged and went ahead with the events. 

REPORT: US Intelligence Was Warned About an Iranian Plot to Assassinate Trump

At this point, there's no indication that the shooter was acting in concert with or at the behest of others, and his motives remain opaque. But he was just a 20-year-old kid, and he managed to kill a 50-year-old husband and father, wound several others, and nearly send the U.S. over the brink. Imagine if there had been an organized effort by sophisticated actors with the level of (in)security now coming to light. Unsecured rooftop only 150 yards from the former president? No problem. Unprepared Secret Service egress plan? No problem. Agents not physically large enough to shield the 6'3" president? No problem. Uninterdicted "person of interest" with a range finder in the area? No problem. Just let Trump trot out to the podium and keep those fingers crossed. 

Saturday was a perfect storm of failure. Answers need to be forthcoming. And fast.