Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said on Monday that the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump was a “failure” of security, as the Secret Service confronts scrutiny over its efforts to protect government officials.
“An incident like this cannot happen,” Mr. Mayorkas told CNN, adding: “When I say something like this cannot happen, we are speaking of a failure.”The comments, from the head of the department that oversees the Secret Service, came after President Biden called for an “independent review” of the security planning for the Trump rally in Butler, Pa., where the shooting occurred on Saturday.
The Secret Service is facing intense questions over the security perimeter at the rally, which did not include a warehouse roof where the would-be assassin fired shots at Mr. Trump.
The gunman, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pa., was killed.
Persons:
Alejandro N, Mayorkas, Donald J, Trump, Mr, Biden
Organizations:
CNN, Trump
Locations:
Butler, Pa, Bethel Park