Can Criminal Charges Be Filed Against the Secret Service Following New Evidence in Trump Assassination Attempt?

Written By: Collin Holson

Co-Written By: Legend Magazine Team

A series of newly released text messages between law enforcement officers reveal that would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks was spotted almost an hour and a half before the shooting took place.

These messages, published by the New York Times, detail a series of exchanges in which local authorities saw Crooks sneaking around the back entrance to the rally and scoping out the stage with a rangefinder.

Although it is clear that authorities saw Crooks doing both of these things, it is unclear exactly why this concern was not investigated by any of the law enforcement agencies present at the event, including the counter-snipers who ultimately killed Crooks.

In the midst of intense public scrutiny, these exchanges appear to be another blatant lapse of judgement from the many agencies charged with protecting former President Trump at the rally.

Can the Secret Service Face Criminal Charges if a President is Assassinated?

As the primary protectors of the president and other high-level officials, the Secret Service would undoubtedly be involved in the investigation process if a president was assassinated, but can they face criminal charges if a president is assassinated? We spoke to Court Magazine Publisher Joseph Bonner on the subject who said, "If, through the investigation, it is discovered that the Secret Service's actions or negligence contributed to the assassination, individuals within the organization could potentially face criminal charges." Bonner continues, "However, the decision to file such charges would rest with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, who would carefully consider the specific circumstances surrounding the case."

While it seems that the Secret Service may have escaped punishment for this alleged negligence at this time, it may serve as a wake-up call for all those who take up the oath to protect the President of the United States in the future.