Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) learned during a Senate briefing that Donald Trump’s would-be assassin was identified as “suspicious” an hour before the shooting.
“He was identified as a character of suspicion because [he had] a rangefinder as well as a backpack. And this was over an hour before the shooting actually occurred,” Barrasso told reporters. “So, you would think over the course of that hour, you shouldn’t lose sight of the individual. Somebody ought to be following up on those sorts of things. No evidence of that happening at all.”
According to others familiar with the matter, the Secret Service was aware of the threat against Trump twenty minutes before the shooting.
“They had identified the shooter as ‘suspicious’ a full 19 minutes before the shooting,” Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) said.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wrote on X, “I just got off a briefing with the Secret Service and FBI. I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service knew about a threat prior to President Trump walking on stage.”
“I have no confidence in the leadership of Director Cheatle and believe it is in the best interest of our nation if she steps down from her position.”
Some Senators, including Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), said the Secret Service only answered four questions during the briefing. He told the Washington Examiner that he found it “infuriating.”
