Significant unanswered questions still surround the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to Sen. Dave McCormick, who says the public has not received a full accounting of what went wrong that day.

In an interview with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on the Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, McCormick said he remains troubled by how a 20-year-old gunman was able to position himself and fire on Trump during the July 13, 2024 rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. He told Devine he is “not satisfied” with the explanations that have been provided so far.

Reflecting on the proximity of the shooter to the stage — “less than 150 yards” — McCormick described the lapse as “hard to imagine,” calling it both “a breach in security” and “a breach in protocol.” He questioned how such a vulnerability could have existed at a presidential campaign event.

McCormick said he had been seated in the front row of the rally after Trump briefly weighed inviting him onto the stage. When gunfire erupted, he immediately recognized the sound from his military background, he told Devine.

He described watching Trump reach for his ear as Secret Service agents rushed to shield him. McCormick also recalled the widely circulated moment when Trump stood up, raised his fist, and shouted, “Fight, fight, fight,” before being escorted from the stage.

The attack left one rally attendee dead and two others injured. Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family, and two additional rallygoers were wounded. The suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed at the scene.

Although federal authorities have concluded that Crooks acted alone, the incident has continued to spark skepticism and concern among members of the public. McCormick argued that restoring trust will require complete transparency from Washington.

Drawing on his experience at Bridgewater Associates, McCormick said he believes in a culture of “radical truth, radical transparency,” adding that “the American people, they can take the truth,” even in highly charged political situations. He said information should be disclosed in all but the rare instances where doing so would truly jeopardize national security, according to the transcript.

The New York Post highlighted what it described as a noticeable difference between the gradual release of details in the Butler case and the rapid public discussion of possible ideological motives following the later assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The comparison, the paper noted, may resonate with Americans who perceive that institutions are quick to frame certain acts of violence through a political lens while moving more cautiously when facts do not align as neatly.

Subsequent reporting has focused on lingering questions about accountability. Families of victims connected to the Butler rally have publicly demanded clarity regarding security breakdowns and whether any officials will face consequences.

Media reports have also detailed disciplinary measures within the Secret Service after internal reviews reportedly uncovered serious failures in coordination and threat response related to the rally.

For McCormick, the core issue is public trust. He told Devine that when the government appears to “stonewall,” even if officials believe they have “legitimate answers,” it ultimately “breeds mistrust.”

{Matzav.com}