Nearly a year after a deranged gunman opened fire on President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the Secret Service has finally released a report detailing punitive actions against agents who failed their mission that fateful day. Six agents have been suspended without pay, but this response falls shockingly short. While the agency pats itself on the back for these modest disciplinary actions, the real scandal here isn’t who got suspended; it’s who didn’t.
On July 13, 2024, gunman Thomas Crooks positioned himself atop a nearby rooftop and fired multiple rounds at President Trump, grazing the President’s ear and tragically killing Corey Comperatore, a devoted husband, father, and firefighter attending the rally. Two other innocent Americans were wounded. Yet it took an entire year for the Secret Service to announce a handful of suspensions ranging from just 10 to 42 days. Is this justice? Is this accountability?
Deputy Director Matt Quinn told CBS News, “We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies.” But let’s be clear: President Trump’s life was nearly taken, an American patriot lost his life, and others were seriously injured. “Deficiencies” doesn’t begin to cover it. The Secret Service’s duty is crystal clear—protect the President and innocent civilians from harm. On that day, they failed spectacularly.
Perhaps even more infuriating is the fact that two Secret Service supervisors directly responsible for the security strategy at Butler were not only spared disciplinary action—they received promotions. According to Susan Crabtree of RealClearPolitics, supervisors Nick Menster and Nick Olszewski both ascended the ranks following the tragedy. Menster moved up as second-in-command protecting Lara and Eric Trump, while Olszewski now ironically leads the Inspection Division—the very department responsible for accountability within the agency.
We were all sitting ducks that day. Our blood is all over their hands. I am angry.
These powerful words from Helen Comperatore, widow of Corey Comperatore, reflect the justified outrage felt by millions of Americans. “I lost the love of my life. They screwed up,” she told Fox News. Her anger is understandable and righteous. The Secret Service owes her and the American people more than just bureaucratic platitudes and a handful of temporary suspensions.
Attorney Larry Berger, representing several suspended agents, has hinted at potential legal action against the agency, telling RealClearPolitics, “We avoided more severe sanctions, and now we’re assessing the next steps.” It’s astonishing that the agents’ attorney sees even these mild punishments as too severe. What about the severity of losing a life? What about the severity of nearly losing a President? The culture of entitlement and unaccountability within our federal agencies must end now.
Two weeks after the assassination attempt, bipartisan pressure forced then-Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign in disgrace. President Trump appointed Sean Curran, who stood on stage with him on that horrific day, as Cheatle’s replacement. Curran has pledged to enact significant reforms, stating recently, “Nothing is more important to the Secret Service than the safety and security of our protectees.” He’s announced that 21 recommendations from congressional oversight bodies have already been implemented, with another 16 in process.
While Director Curran’s commitment is commendable, true accountability demands firings, not mere suspensions. It demands a culture shift where incompetence and negligence aren’t rewarded with promotions but punished swiftly and severely. The Secret Service has long been revered for its bravery and professionalism, but the Butler tragedy exposed alarming rot at the core of its leadership. The American people deserve better.
We must insist that the Secret Service returns to its founding principles—unwavering vigilance, uncompromising standards, and strict accountability. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the President and the American public. Let us never again allow complacency and bureaucratic cover-ups to endanger our leaders and citizens. The stakes are simply too high.
