Washington, 14 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A US Senate committee found that "stunning failures" by the Secret Service (USSS) enabled an assassination attempt on Donald Trump during the US presidential election a year ago.

On July 13, 2024, a gunman opened fire on Trump from a roof during an election campaign event in Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing Trump's ear. One audience member died, and two other spectators were badly injured in the attack. The gunman was shot dead.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, in the report released on Sunday, detailed "a disturbing pattern of communication failures and negligence that culminated in a preventable tragedy."

The committee listed a series of "unacceptable failures" by the USSS, including denying requests for extra staff and resources to protect Trump, as well as a lack of communication.

The gunman's motive, meanwhile, remains unknown.

"What happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, was not just a tragedy—it was a scandal," said committee chairman Rand Paul, a Republican senator representing the state of Kentucky.

"The United States Secret Service failed to act on credible intelligence, failed to coordinate with local law enforcement, and failed to prevent an attack that nearly took the life of a then-former president."

Paul went on to condemn the lack of disciplinary measures following the assassination attempt.

"That's unacceptable. This was not a single lapse in judgment. It was a complete breakdown of security at every level—fueled by bureaucratic indifference, a lack of clear protocols, and a shocking refusal to act on direct threats."

"We must hold individuals accountable and ensure reforms are fully implemented so this never happens again," Paul said.

Photo: EPA