The Lingering Questions about the Attempt to Kill Trump

Update: 2024-07-24

Digest

This podcast delves into the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, leading to the resignation of the Secret Service head, Kimberly Cheetle. The podcast explores the background and actions of the shooter, Thomas Crookes, revealing his quiet life, lack of political affiliation, and meticulous planning leading up to the shooting. The podcast also reports on Kamala Harris securing the Democratic presidential nomination and Senator Robert Menendez's resignation from the Senate due to bribery and foreign agent charges. The podcast highlights the key security failures, including inadequate perimeter security and communication breakdowns between the Secret Service and local law enforcement. It also discusses the implications of these failures for the upcoming election and the need for improved security measures.

Outlines

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Security Failures and Political Events

This podcast explores the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the background of the shooter, and the political events surrounding Kamala Harris's presidential nomination and Robert Menendez's resignation.

Keywords

Guantanamo Bay

A United States military base located in Cuba, known for its detention camp housing suspected terrorists. It has been a controversial site due to its legal and ethical implications.

Secret Service

A federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the President, Vice President, and other high-ranking officials. It also investigates financial crimes.

Kimberly Cheetle

Former director of the United States Secret Service, who resigned after the security failures surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Thomas Crookes

The shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump. He was a quiet and isolated individual with no known political affiliations.

Kamala Harris

The current Vice President of the United States, who secured the Democratic presidential nomination.

Robert Menendez

A Democratic senator from New Jersey who resigned after being convicted of bribery and acting as a foreign agent.

Q&A

What were the key security failures that led to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump?
The Secret Service failed to adequately secure the perimeter of the event, leaving buildings outside the security zone vulnerable. Communication breakdowns between the Secret Service and local law enforcement also contributed to the failure.
What did Kimberly Cheetle say in her testimony before Congress about the security failures?
Cheetle acknowledged the security failures as the most significant in decades and took full responsibility. However, she provided limited details and deferred to an ongoing investigation.
What do we know about the shooter, Thomas Crookes, and his motives?
Crookes was a quiet and isolated individual with no known political affiliations. He meticulously planned the shooting, but his motives remain unclear. Investigators have not found any evidence of a political agenda or a manifesto.
What are the implications of the Secret Service failures for the upcoming election?
The failures raise concerns about the security of political events and the ability of the Secret Service to protect high-ranking officials. The agency is now focused on improving coordination with local law enforcement and identifying threats more effectively.

Show Notes

In the week since the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the security mistakes that led to the shooting have come into sharp focus, prompting Kimberly Cheatle, the head of the Secret Service, to resign.

Glenn Thrush, who reports on the Justice Department for The Times, discusses what we now know about the service’s lapses that day.

Guest: Glenn Thrush, a reporter on the Justice Department for The New York Times.

Background reading:

See a visual timeline of the shooting at the Trump rally.
In resigning, Ms. Cheatle said that one of the Secret Service’s foremost duties was to protect the nation’s leaders, adding that it “fell short of that mission” on July 13.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.