I didn’t watch all of yesterday’s Senate hearing about the attempted assassination of former President Trump. What I saw however sharpened concerns I had at the time and since the House took it’s own crack at the matter. To be sure there were tough and valid questions posed in both hearings by both Democrats and Republicans. Of course there was also some of the strutting performance jackassery from certain individuals that we all knew would happen. That stuff doesn’t help of course but even more serious questions made with serious and good intent could prove damaging to the Secret Service’s (and other LE) ability to protect Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Presidential candidates, other VIPs and yes, former Presidents. (Trump falls under two of those) An assassination that kills or gravely wounds a Secret Service Protectee has real time implications for our national security.  The public floggings might get politicians attention, and even answer questions we all have BUT I’m worried about the law of unintended consequences.

We all want answers (and now) as to how the hell the Butler mass shooting happened. A man who by all accounts was a good man lost his life, his blood and brains splattered his family and people nearby. Two other victims sustained severe gunshot wounds. And forme President and now major Party nominee Trump got nicked on the ear. Had the shooter been even a moderately good shot Trump might well be dead and the turmoil and division in this country, already really bad would have exploded.  In the hours, hell minutes after the shooting ended people, not just experts but regular folks were incredulous. HOW could some shooter have access to such an obvious for an assassination position have been able to get where he did and start popping off shots?

By the next day that was far from the only question. In the first few days more information came to light about the shooter have been noticed and deemed suspicious by LE literally hours before the shooting started. Again, one doesn’t have to know much about security and protecting VIPs to see multiple and massive failures had allowed a tragic incident which could so easily have been far more tragic had taken place. Of course we the public, just like the agencies involved that day and yes, Congress too want detailed answers as to what went wrong. NOW.  There’s still a Presidential campaign taking place after all, a sitting President to protect and former ones other than Trump too. Not to mention their families. Everyone knows the chaos, the crazy that would ensue if another assassin got another chance, and worse managed to kill the VIP.

The problem is, some aspects of how Secret Service protection is carried out HAVE to remain secret.  Grandstanding by some (Ted Cruz yesterday for example) wanting, DEMANDING publicly revealing exact numbers of Secret Service agents assigned to which Protectees is flat out dangerous information to make available to those that wish any Protectee or this country ill. So are certain specifics of the decision making process of how resources are allocated, including coordination with state and local LE during events.  Some of it can be given, and still more will be revealed when reports are eventually written. However the posturing and posing by elected officials, not just Republicans but Democrats too doesn’t help the Secret Service fulfill its mission.

In fact it’s counter-productive. To the point of being dangerous!

The need to thoroughly examine what went wrong is, by the way Congress is acting doing real damage to the relationship between the Secret Service and State/Local LE. What had developed over decades as a sincere mutual trust and almost always sincere efforts at cooperation and teamwork is being threatened. It’s been clear since the early days after the shooting that there were failures both on the part of the Secret Service and of State/Local LE.  It also became clear without the “benefit” of any hearings there was breakdown in communication between the Secret Service and State/Local LE. There was a time when even Congress would help facilitate a thorough, professional review. Not hidden but sure as hell low-key and not the spectacle we are seeing.

It’s clear there are different opinions between the fed (mostly the Secret Service) and the locals over who had exactly what assignments and how information was shared, or why any attempts to do so didn’t make it to Trump’s detail. Or worse, if the detail was aware at least to some degree why Trump was allowed to take the stage, and if told about a threat on that roof why they didn’t surround him and get him the hell to safety. Like I said, there was a time when this would have been more quietly, and I’m sure more thoroughly explored and we’d wind up with better answers that would prevent similar problems in the future. Instead, finger pointing started and both sides are increasingly dug in.

Journalists have been lapping it up, happy and even eager to fan the flames of what would have been smoldering coals into an outright fire. If, like me you’ve been keeping an eye on this you’ve seen articles like this one from News Nation titled:

Local law enforcement: USSS comments on Trump shooting ‘ridiculous’

This is but one of many pieces of reporting on the growing level of finger pointing that is accelerating in frequency and intensity. It’s a short article and worth the less than two minutes it takes to read but one paragraph sums up the thrust:

Rowe criticized the local authorities for a communications breakdown between agencies protecting the former president. But Pat Young, the chief of detectives for Beaver County who was tasked with securing the area around Trump’s rally, said they had no communication with the federal authorities that day.

Anyone who reads my work know my disdain for what the news has become. Plenty of other print outlets and plenty of electronic ones too are hitting this same kind of thing. News outlets have become as much, if not more about entertainment that clear, concise reporting that explains things the public should know. Oh, we get some of that but the EMPHASIS is on conflict and controversy. THAT is what SELLS. Ratings/clicks means revenue that that’s the most important thing in journalism now. So hell yes they want to Jerry Springer Show the hell out of this and create a full on food fight with the food being thrown on fire. Turn those coals into a big burst of flames.

Now, Congress Critters are throwing gasoline on the whole thing and don’t seem inclined to stop doing so. Instead, they could create a massive fire that could do more than burn up the critical relationship the Secret Service has had with State/Local LE but destroy it. Real trust, trust that built up over decades and with a LOT of effort once lost won’t be regained at nearly the same level. If at all. That’s why I say what’s going on is dangerous. Both to the people the Secret Service has to protect but the country itself.

If you think I’m engaging in hyperbole then I’d ask to to consider some things.  Certain people, the President and Vice-President always require a significant and sometime massive “bubble”, one which extends to their spouses and even family members, each of which has to have their own detail protecting them. Certain other officials require round-the-clock protection, along with their loved ones too. And sometimes circumstances require an ad hoc, temporary Secret Service protection detail.  That’s a lot of people to protect and over the decades the Secret Service has been stretched increasingly thin.

It’s no secret that they’ve long utilized not just other federal agencies security assets but also state and local law enforcement to get the job done. The recent shooting in Butler notwithstanding the Secret Service has done quite a good job since the attempt on Reagan’s life.  Reagan was far more seriously wounded than Trump and lest people forget multiple attempts were made to shoot Ford. Luckily for him he wasn’t hit.  The Secret Service took a hard look at procedures and at how they could do better and for decades it proved successful.  I have no doubt that will be the case now, and it would have happened without the public spectacle’s of a new type of Congress where Senators and Representatives see a hearing into something so “in” the public’s consciousness as a golden opportunity to get lots of attention with their voters. (And for those looking to move up other voters too)

I do actually think at major news outlets they’ve thought this through. And don’t care about any danger they are creating to the people the Secret Service protects or the consequence to the country and national security if the worst happens. Frankly that’s true of some of the asshats we saw posturing in both the House and Senate hearings. I’d like to think that a good chunk of them have let a mix of concern and anger overrule their judgement in the heat of this moment.  That they haven’t fully thought through the damage they are doing by pitting federal (again, especially the Secret Service) and State/Local LE against each other and the consequences.

Like others I want answers to what went wrong and how things will change to minimize, if not eliminate the chances of the various failure from happening again. However it was quickly apparent to me, and frankly to most people the most serious things that went wrong. We don’t need a media frenzy and especially Congressional strutting to get to the nitty-gritty details. Details which MUST be learned so the lessons can be applied moving forward. Journalists have no intention of backing off efforts to milk this for every bit of attention and revenue they can.  However, Congress can and damn well SHOULD if not stand down dial the temperature way the hell down

Yes, a Congressional inquiry is warranted. However instead of what we’ve seen and are likely to see more of isn’t the way to go. No, this requires a Joint Select Committee of no more than six or eight serious members. People with sterling reputations for integrity who are known for NOT engaging in political performance art if not downright performance jackassery.  They can be staffed by serious investigators of their own which came to work for them and relevant committees after having served in federal or even state LE. They should get closed door weekly briefings with the Secret Service and FBI representatives to get updates and propose their own questions to be run down. And issue a joint statement with mutually agreed upon facts that can be released without damaging the larger inquiry.

That is what should be happening and should frankly already have been put in motion.  Instead we have what’s shaping up to be a demolition derby in the “big tent” of a ridiculous circus. With vehicles on fire crashing into each other and threatening to create fire that spreads into the stands and winds up burning the whole damn tent down.  That damage will as I said make it damned tough, if not impossible for the Secret Service to coordinate with other federal agencies, as well as State/Local LE.

Instead of the old mutual trust everyone will make CYA a major factor in everything.  That won’t enhance security but as I keep saying decrease it. That greatly increases the chances for tragic consequences.

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