On Thursday, America First Legal (AFL) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for illegally concealing government records related to the first assassination attempt of President Trump in Pennsylvania in July.
On July 16, 2024, AFL launched a flurry of investigations, on an expedited basis, into the federal government’s activities before, during, and after July 13, 2024. These investigations included requests for:
- Documents revealing potential USSS staffing shortages;
- Documents on USSS hiring and employment standards;
- All communications to or from DHS Secretary Alejandro Majorkas, DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo, and DHS Chief of Staff Jonathan Davidson on July 13, 2024;
- Calendars from key government officials, including the Director of the United States Secret Service and the Deputy Director of the United States Secret Service Secretary.
To date, AFL has not received any requested records despite requesting expedited processing and meeting all of the standards in law to receive such expedited proceedings.
Notably, the USSS previously told AFL in July that it would not process AFL’s FOIA on USSS staffing shortages on an expedited basis, claiming there was no threat to the life or safety of anyone and that there was no urgency to inform the public about government activity. However, USSS granted AFL’s request for expedited processing of the FOIA request in another request that used the same justifications.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently told reporters on Capitol Hill that “I am reaching the point of total outrage because the response from the Department of Homeland Security has been totally lacking. In fact, I think it’s tantamount to stonewalling in many respects.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) released a whistleblower report outlining the failures of the USSS in connection with the assassination attempt, noting that “To date, Secret Service and DHS have provided virtually no answers, and there remain many outstanding questions.” Ranking Member of HSGAC Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), explained, “[The] toxicology report; we don’t have any of the trajectory reports. So, where’d the bullets go? We don’t even know how they handled the crime scene.” Politicians on both sides of the aisle and the American people both agree that USSS and senior officials at DHS are failing to provide well-deserved and well-needed transparency.
Just a few days ago, another assassin attempted to take President Trump’s life in Florida. There is no denying that President Trump currently faces genuine threats, and AFL’s requests would help to ensure that USSS and DHS leadership are sufficiently trained and staffed to ensure the safety of President Trump.
The American people and Congress need total transparency.
Statement from Gene Hamilton, America First Legal Executive Director:
“On July 13, the American people watched in horror as a lunatic attempted to assassinate former President, and current candidate for President, Donald Trump. Today, there is widespread and bipartisan acknowledgment that there were catastrophic failures that tragic day and in the weeks and months ahead of it. We are committed to obtaining these records so that the American people can see for themselves exactly what senior DHS leadership was prioritizing in its mission and why more resources were not devoted to the protection of President Donald J. Trump,” said Gene Hamilton.
Read the lawsuit here.
