The Secret Service has placed at least five agents on leave due to the investigation into the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Among those removed from duty is the head of the Pittsburgh field office, US media reported.
Among others, one of the agents responsible for security was sent on leave Donald Trump and three of the Secret Service officers in Pittsburgh, CBS News reported, based on its sources. It is not clear whether this decision is disciplinary in nature for all of them, the station added.
The Secret Service spokesman did not confirm
The Secret Service is trying to figure out how The 20-year-old bomber in the July 13 Butler, Pennsylvania, shootingwhere the Trump campaigner was giving a speech, managed to fire eight shots before he was subdued. The gunman's bullet wounded the presidential candidate USA in the ear.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined to confirm whether the agents had been placed on leave, but said they maintained “the highest professional standards.” He added that any findings of misconduct or procedural violations would result in disciplinary action.
Donald Trump during the attack PAP/EPA/DAVID MAXWELL
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Loss of access to secret information
CBS noted that a Secret Service agent placed on administrative leave for disciplinary reasons receives regular pay. Typically, he is assigned to administrative work and removed from operational work. He may also be subject to suspension or suspension without pay. This usually involves losing access to classified information. However, that was not the case here.
Donald Trump's first public appearance since the assassination attempt on his lifeReuters
During the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler a 50-year-old firefighter died and two people suffered serious injuries. The attacker was shot by a Secret Service sniper. The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, who was questioned in Congress, eventually resigned. An investigation into possible negligence is being conducted by Congress, and Donald Trump has announced that if he is elected president of the United States, he will establish a special commission to investigate all the circumstances of the July 13 attack.
Main image source: PAP/EPA/DAVID MAXWELL