Representative Cory Mills' (R-FL) independent investigation into the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump recently held its first forum, which raised more questions even as it gave answers. The Florida Congressman discussed the hearing afterward in an appearance on Fox News's Jesse Watters Primetime, saying. At the same time, a culture of political capture influenced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and general corruption exists, and the question of gross criminal negligence or deliberate intent remains hanging over the shooting.
One of the forum's attendants, Washington Regional SWAT Officer Ben Shaffer, who served as a countersniper during the Butler, Pennsylvania incident, confirmed that the Secret Service refused to use communications devices and drone surveillance offered by local law enforcement.
"The question now becomes, why was the Secret Service setting this up for failure by not going forward and utilizing all of the available assets and resources to ensure the safety of former President Donald J. Trump?" Rep. Mills asked rhetorically.
Host Jesse Watters replied with a question of his own, asking what the Secret Service might attempt to respond to Rep. Mills' question, who suggested "they are going to try and run this whole idea of negligence or the fact that they are going to try and say it was the fault of three or four officers. The bottom line stops at the Director themselves."
The Florida Congressman noted that former Secret Service agent and political pundit Dan Bongino suggested the service's culture had been corrupted and, thus, the decision not to beef up Trump's security detail was political, which Mills agreed with.
"Look, this is a culture of a fostered DEI society, whereby they are not trying to send their best. I went through a plethora of lists since 2023 to 2024 of all of the failed and missed steps that have been taken by the Secret Service. So I can tell you it is a culture issue. It is DEI at heart, but this is either criminal gross negligence or purposeful intent, and that is what we are set out to actually find," Mills concluded.
