BUTLER, PA - Ever since the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump on July 13, the mainstream media has engaged in tremendous effort to give the Secret Service a pass on the clear security failures of that agency. The Secret Service has primary responsibility for the personal safety of high-level government officials, including current and former presidents. Now, some in Pennsylvania have had enough of the media gaslighting.
Fox News reports that State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, a Pennsylvania legislator that represents Butler and Lawrence county is slamming the national media for their attempt to lay blame for the shooting of Trump and three others on local law enforcement agencies and first responders. Bernstine rightly lays blame for the inept security response to the Trump rally precisely where it belongs–the United States Secret Service.
“Our first responders in this situation have been thrown under the bus by those in the national media. That is entirely inappropriate,” Bernstine told Fox News Digital. “These individuals did everything that they should have done and took every precaution. This is a complete failure from a tactical standpoint, to a communication standpoint, by the United States Secret Service.”
While many who work in law enforcement have questioned why the Secret Service didn’t deploy aerial assets such as drones or helicopters, have snipers at the highest point in the perimeter, and allowed a direct line of sight between a potential vulnerability and the “X” or where, in this case, Trump was standing, many in the mainstream media have given cover to the agency and by extension the Biden administration.
These failures and the subsequent circling of the wagons by administration-favorable media have done nothing to quell so-called “conspiracy theories” that something nefarious is at play.
“That being said, we have great people here,” Bernstine continued. “[It is] a great conservative area. I couldn’t be more proud to represent these folks.”
Continuing, Bernstine said, “What transpired had nothing to do with our local law enforcement. Our local law enforcement did every single thing that was asked of them. We’re so proud of the work that they did. This was a complete security fail by the United States Secret Service.”
Bernstine told Fox News that it was initially planned for the Pennsylvania state legislature to hold hearings after the deadly shooting, which left Trump and two others injured and killed former fire chief Corey Comperatore, however it is currently out of session. He said that since the United States Congress has taken the lead on examining what happened, that is no longer the case.
“Congressman Mike Kelly, R-PA, and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, are going to do everything they can to uncover what transpired and make sure it never happens again,” Bernstine added, while noting that the speed with which House Republicans led by Speaker Johnson responded to the shooting meant that the Pennsylvania legislature did not need to get involved.
“Our original plans when this horrible situation occurred were to have hearings, where we would bring people in front of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. My position on that has changed,” he said.
Rep. Kelly, who represents Butler and Erie, toured the rally site as part of a bipartisan congressional tour, and is leading the House task force investigating the shooting.
While noting that House Republicans have apparently directed enough resources to their own probe into the shooting, he said Pennsylvania legislators stand by ready to assist if needed.
Bernstine, who has represented the district since 2016, has extended an invitation to President Trump to return to the district when he feels up to doing so.
“With what transpired–words can’t even express the difficulty of what’s been on our community–we welcome President Trump back. We look forward to having President Trump back.
“We’re going to have a huge rally that is beyond secure for President Trump.”
Trump returned to the Keystone State last week, his first event since the shooting, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex located outside of Harrisburg. He said the venue and the crowd reminded him of Madison Square Garden, located in Manhattan. J
Bernstine also paid homage to Comperatore, who was shot in the head as he shielded his wife and daughter from the assassin’s bullets.
“[He was] one of our neighbors who gave so much to the community,” Bernstine said. “This has obviously been a major burden on our community and something that has really been a major burden across the entire nation. And that’s why I have done everything in my power–No. 1–to help our community.”
“But, in addition to that, [we must] be supportive of the work that’s being done in Congress to understand what happened, why it happened, who was involved, and what are the things we can do to ensure this never happens again.”
Kimberly Cheatle, the now former head of the Secret Service, was called before Congress last month and received a bipartisan shellacking from a House subcommittee. After initially refusing to resign, Cheatle submitted her resignation the next day.
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