By Steve Neavling
Pennsylvania’s police commissioner disclosed new information about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump during a hearing Tuesday before the House Homeland Security Committee.
Col. Christopher Paris, head of the Pennsylvania State Police, testified one day after Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle took the hot seat in front of the House Oversight Committee.
The testimony is part of the committee’s ongoing hearing on the assassination attempt.
Paris testified that two Butler Emergency County Service Unit officers stationed at a second-floor window in the complex of buildings where the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired at Trump abandoned the area to search for the man before the shooting, the Associated Press reports. While Crooks was on the ground, the officers believed he was acting suspiciously and left their post to search for him with other law enforcement officers, Paris said.
If they remained at their post, Paris said it’s unclear if they would have been able to see Crooks climbing onto the roof of an adjacent building.
The testimony offered new insights into the stunning security failures at the rally.
Earlier Tuesday, Cheattle resigned under pressure from Republicans and Democrats. She was expected to testify in front of the committee.
