The United States authorities have announced that they have recently received information from a source about an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump. This prompted the Secret Service to ramp up security around him, and multiple informed sources told CNN.
There is no evidence suggesting that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who tried to kill Trump on Saturday, was connected to the plot, according to the sources.
The discovery of this threat from a hostile foreign intelligence agency and the increased security for Trump raises concerns about the security lapses at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and how a 20-year-old was able to access a nearby rooftop to shoot at Trump, injuring him.
A US national security official said the Secret Service and the Trump campaign were informed of the threat before the rally.
“The Secret Service was alerted to the increased threat,” the official told CNN. “The NSC contacted the USSS at a senior level to ensure they were tracking the latest intelligence. The USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was informed of an evolving threat. In response, the Secret Service increased resources and assets to protect former President Trump. All of this was done before Saturday.”
The Trump campaign declined to confirm whether they were informed about the Iran threat. “We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to the United States Secret Service,” the campaign said in a statement.
Secret Service officials have repeatedly cautioned the Trump campaign against holding outdoor rallies, which pose greater risks than controlled access events, according to people briefed on the matter. These warnings have been more general, the sources said.
“The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and adjusting resources as needed,” Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the agency, said on Tuesday. “We cannot comment on any specific threat stream, other than to say that the Secret Service takes threats seriously and responds accordingly.”
At one point during this election cycle, the campaign ceased holding impromptu off-the-record events where guests weren’t vetted by the Secret Service due to security concerns, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The FBI, which is investigating Saturday’s shooting, declined to comment.
NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said there’s no known connection between shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks and anyone else at this time.
“The investigation into Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Trump is active and ongoing. At this time, law enforcement has reported that their investigation has not identified ties between the shooter and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic,” Watson said.
The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations denied that there is an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.
“These accusations are unfounded and malicious. From Iran’s perspective, Trump is a criminal who should be prosecuted and punished in court for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani. Iran has chosen the legal path to seek justice,” a spokesperson for the mission told CNN.
Nancy Mbamalu
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