U.S. intelligence recently uncovered an Iran-backed plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump, leading to increased security measures around him. Despite this, CNN reports there is no evidence connecting Thomas Matthew Crooks, the individual who attempted to kill Trump on Saturday, to the Iranian plot.
CNN Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez provided details on-air, stating that intelligence from a credible human source indicated the Iranian plot. This prompted the Secret Service to enhance Trump’s protection. Over the weekend, the Secret Service confirmed these increased security measures due to the credible threat.
Perez emphasized that there is no indication that Crooks, the would-be assassin, was linked to the Iranian plot. This appears to be a coincidence, but it raises significant questions about how Crooks managed to get so close to Trump. Despite the heightened security, the 20-year-old gunman was able to reach a rooftop and fire shots, nearly hitting Trump.
CNN’s online report mentioned that the Secret Service had advised Trump against holding outdoor rallies, like the one in Pennsylvania where the attempt occurred, due to higher security risks. The Trump campaign has not commented on the security details, directing all questions to the Secret Service. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, confirmed the addition of protective resources and capabilities to Trump’s security detail, emphasizing the challenges of securing outdoor events.
It’s not clear whether the specifics of the Iran threat were shared with the Trump campaign, which said in a statement: “We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to The United States Secret Service.”
The Secret Service recently “added protective resources and capabilities to the former President’s security detail,” agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement on Sunday.
Secret Service officials have warned the Trump campaign repeatedly against holding outdoor rallies, which pose greater risks than events to which the agency can better control access, people briefed on the matter said. The warnings have been more general in nature, the sources said.
