Hawley Demands Declassification of Trump Butler Rally Docs

Senator Josh Hawley Demands Full Disclosure on Trump Assassination Attempt

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to declassify all documents related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. This request comes exactly one year after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump from a rooftop near the event, grazing the president’s ear.

Despite the passage of time, many questions remain about how Crooks was able to get such a clear shot at Trump. Hawley emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in his letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, highlighting the need for full disclosure of all relevant information.

"This occasion marks a deeply troubling chapter in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in preserving public trust during moments of national crisis," Hawley wrote. "To that end, I urge you to take the necessary steps to declassify all documents within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) related to the events of July 13, 2024."

Hawley pointed out that the American people expect full transparency from their government, especially in cases involving high-profile figures like the president. He criticized the Biden administration's Secret Service and DHS for withholding critical information and failing to provide the public with basic facts about the incident.

"The public learned far more from whistleblowers than they did from public officials, and I released a report documenting these disclosures, many of which have been corroborated to date," Hawley stated. "In October of last year, in a unanimous vote, the Homeland Security Committee passed my legislation requiring the Secret Service release to the public all pertinent documents."

Hawley is now requesting that Noem immediately declassify and release all documents related to the first assassination attempt on Trump, subject only to the narrowest possible redactions necessary to protect ongoing operations or individual safety. He emphasized that the public deserves a full and accurate account of the event, including the circumstances that allowed it to happen and the steps the government has taken since to strengthen protective measures.

Key Requests and Calls for Accountability

Hawley requested a complete inventory of all classified or non-public materials related to the first assassination attempt on Trump, including reports, internal communications, threat assessments, after-action reviews, and coordinated records with other agencies. He also asked for a formal explanation for the continued classification of materials that Noem believes must remain restricted, along with a proposed plan and timeline for the immediate declassification and public release of all remaining documents by July 30, 2025.

The senator’s call for transparency follows the release of a detailed report in September, which outlined significant failures by the Secret Service in connection with the attempted assassination. The report included whistleblower allegations that are described as "highly damaging to the credibility" of the agency. It uncovered a "compounding pattern of negligence, sloppiness, and gross incompetence that goes back years, all of which culminated in an assassination attempt that came inches from succeeding."

Hawley accused the Secret Service, FBI, and DHS of trying to evade real accountability. "These agencies and their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility," the report states.

Ongoing Investigations and Public Concerns

After the first of two assassination attempts against Trump in just over two months, Hawley visited the Butler rally site to interview whistleblowers and opened up a whistleblower tip line, encouraging those with relevant information to share it with officials. Documents subpoenaed by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs revealed major failures among the six U.S. Secret Service agents who were suspended without pay in response to the assassination attempt.

The documents, based on interviews with the agents and their colleagues, showed that several agents admitted to major security concerns at the Butler rally but failed to elevate the issues or develop a proper plan to cover the roof that provided Crooks with a clear shot of Trump. Some agents were suspended without pay for various terms, though none were fired.