Quick Hit:

Secret Service agents failed to search the outskirts of Donald Trump's Florida golf course ahead of a second assassination attempt due to an “off-the-record” visit, the agency’s acting director acknowledged. The suspect allegedly set up a sniper's nest and went undetected for hours.

Key Details:

• Secret Service did not conduct a perimeter search at Trump International West Palm Beach because the visit was not on the official schedule.
• The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, hid on the golf course's edge for 12 hours before Trump’s arrival.
• Agents eventually spotted and arrested the suspect after a brief confrontation.

Diving Deeper:

The Secret Service admitted to failing to conduct a preemptive search of the perimeter at Donald Trump's Florida golf course, where a man allegedly attempted a second assassination. Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. confirmed that agents did not sweep the area because the former president’s visit was an “off-the-record” plan not listed on his official schedule.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is accused of setting up a sniper's nest on the edge of Trump International West Palm Beach and hiding undetected for nearly 12 hours. Federal prosecutors revealed that Routh was discovered only when Secret Service agents spotted the muzzle of an AK-style rifle protruding from the shrubbery lining the golf course just before Trump, 78, teed off on Sunday afternoon.

Rowe defended the agency's actions, stating, "The president wasn’t even really supposed to go there. It was not on his official schedule." He added that a security plan was put in place based on the information available, and it ultimately worked, as agents were able to arrest Routh before any shots were fired.

However, Rowe stopped short of explaining whether the unplanned nature of the stop limited the agents' ability to secure the area thoroughly. The acting director praised the agents for their quick response in spotting the weapon and engaging the suspect. Routh reportedly dropped his rifle when an agent fired at him, fleeing the scene in an SUV. Authorities say he left behind his weapon, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera before being apprehended 40 minutes later on Interstate 95.