US Secret Service admits multiple failures over Donald Trump assassination attempt

A US Secret Service probe found communication gaps and a lack of diligence ahead of the July attempted assassination of Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally.

“There was complacency on the part of” some agents “that led to a breach of security protocols”, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe told reporters on Friday, adding that agency employees will be held accountable.

“These penalties will be administered according to our disciplinary process,” Rowe said, declining to provide specifics.

The assassination attempt against Trump at the July 13 rally led to widespread criticism of the Secret Service and the resignation of its former director.

Critics raised concerns about how the suspect was able to access a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to where the former US president was speaking.