Letter to the editor: Secret Service incompetence troubling

It’s now apparent that Thomas Crooks, the person who attempted to assassinate former President Trump, was better prepared for the events that unfolded at the July 13 rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds than were the United States Secret Service personnel (“Secret Service is investigating how a gunman who shot and injured Trump was able to get so close,” July 14, TribLive).

The gunman reportedly entered the property in full view of attendees of the rally carrying a backpack containing range-finder binoculars and related shooting gear, and perched himself on top of a building within 160 yards and with a clear line of fire to the podium where Trump would be speaking; he proceeded to fire numerous rifle rounds, nearly killing Trump and wounding several others, one fatally. Up until the shooting started, the attending Secret Service personnel seemed to be inexplicably oblivious to any danger to Trump.

It’s interesting to note that organizationally the Secret Service is within the Department of Homeland Security, whose director is Alejandro Mayorkas, the same individual who is responsible for protecting this country’s borders, but who nevertheless has allowed tens of thousands of illegal migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexican border. Mayorkas is a President Biden appointee.

The Secret Service is responsible for protecting U.S. political leaders, their families and visiting heads of state. The director of the Secret Service is Kimberly Cheatle, also a Biden appointee.

The chain of incompetence that obviously threads through the Secret Service, Homeland Security and the president’s office is quite troubling.

Wayne Baughman

Salem