Within minutes of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Secret Service, which protects senior American political figures, found itself in the crosshairs of criticism.
Democratic President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he had ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances of the assassination attempt.
Its methods, its organization, its means, will be examined with a fine-tooth comb. In particular, questions focus on the reasons why the building on the roof of which the shooter took up position to target the Republican candidate had been placed outside the “perimeter” of the Secret Service and its security had been delegated to local police officers.
Does the Secret Service alone ensure the protection of high-ranking political figures?
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle took responsibility for the events of July 13 in an interview broadcast Monday night by ABC.
But she confirmed that the building where the shooter was located had been placed within the “outer perimeter” of the rally, under the responsibility of local police, not the Secret Service. “Local police were present in that area,” she said, without explaining how he had managed to climb onto the roof without being stopped.
During a presidential campaign, the Secret Service “calls on the resources not only of the federal government, but of state and local law enforcement,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, its supervisory authority, also said on Monday.
Who does he protect?
The Secret Service provides lifetime protection to presidents and vice presidents, in office, after their term, or the principal candidates for these offices, their families, and the children of former presidents up to the age of 16.
Its agents also ensure the security of foreign heads of state and government on official visits or during major national or international events in the United States.
What are its missions and its staff?
Originally created to combat counterfeit currency, it was tasked, following the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, with protecting the president, vice president and their families, both in the United States and abroad.
In accordance with its primary purpose, it protects the American financial and monetary system against financial and electronic fraud, counterfeiting of currency or bank cards.
The Secret Service has some 3,200 special agents, known worldwide for their dark glasses, earpieces and dark suits, 1,300 uniformed personnel, as well as more than 2,000 technical or administrative officials.
Who is he accountable to?
Reporting to the Treasury Department since its creation in 1865, the Secret Service came under the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003.
Several congressional committees have also requested to hear from Secret Service officials and its supervisory authority in the coming weeks. The Republican chairman of the House Investigations Committee has set a July 22 hearing for Mr.me Cheatle.
What lessons will be learned from the investigation?
The Biden administration has declined to comment, insisting that the investigation, which is due to begin in the coming days, is “independent” but has expressed “confidence” in the director of the Secret Service. Donald Trump’s security detail was adjusted shortly after the assassination attempt.
The investigation “will examine the actions of the Secret Service before, during and after the assassination attempt,” the Secretary of Homeland Security said. The goal is “to determine what corrective actions are necessary to ensure that the no-fail mission of protecting the nation’s leaders is most effectively accomplished,” Mayorkas said.
He raised the possibility of asking Congress for additional resources to allow the Secret Service to rely less on local police.