Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is calling on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to declassify all documents related to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Marking the one-year anniversary of the near-fatal attack, Hawley sent a letter to Noem demanding transparency and accountability. “This occasion marks a deeply troubling chapter in our nation’s history,” Hawley wrote, “and serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in preserving public trust during moments of national crisis.”
A Year Later, Still No Clear Answers
The shooting, carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from a rooftop overlooking the rally, left Trump with a grazed ear and plunged the nation into shock. Despite a year of investigations, many questions remain unanswered—particularly how the shooter managed to secure such a clear vantage point.
Hawley’s letter presses Noem to release all internal communications, threat assessments, after-action reports, and any interagency correspondence tied to the attempt. He also requested an inventory of all classified or unreleased materials and a detailed explanation for any continued redactions, along with a timeline for public disclosure by July 30, 2025.
Hawley Blasts Secrecy, Points to Whistleblowers
Hawley slammed the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service for what he called “stonewalling” the public and Congress. “The public learned far more from whistleblowers than they did from public officials,” he said, referencing his own report released in September 2024 that accused the Secret Service of “gross incompetence” and negligence.
The report outlined a series of internal failures, including ignored security concerns, inadequate rooftop surveillance, and agents failing to conduct final walkthroughs of the rally site. Six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay, but none were fired.
Agents Ignored Warnings, Failed to Act
According to Senate committee documents, multiple agents admitted they were aware of security vulnerabilities at the rally but failed to elevate those concerns or act on them. One lead advance agent reportedly never completed a final walk-through of the site due to a heat-related hospitalization.
“These agencies and their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility,” Hawley’s report stated. He added that the DHS, FBI, and Secret Service have all attempted “to evade real accountability.”
Mounting Pressure for Transparency
Hawley’s latest demand adds to the growing pressure on the Biden-era security agencies to explain how a major lapse allowed an assassination attempt against a former—and now current—president. Despite a unanimous vote from the Homeland Security Committee in favor of releasing related materials last year, much of the information remains under wraps.
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Meanwhile, Hawley continues to push for answers. He previously visited the Butler rally site, interviewed whistleblowers, and opened a tip line for those with relevant information to come forward.
“This is about restoring public confidence,” Hawley wrote. “The American people deserve a full and accurate account of what happened that day—and what’s been done since to ensure it never happens again.”
