Quick Hit:

Sen. Chuck Grassley has demanded answers from the Secret Service after discovering that First Lady Jill Biden received significantly more security than former President Donald Trump at their respective Pennsylvania events on July 13, 2024.

Key Details:

First Lady Jill Biden had 12 Secret Service personnel for "post standing" at her Pittsburgh event.
Former President Donald Trump had only 3 Secret Service personnel for "post standing" at his rally in Butler.
Sen. Chuck Grassley is investigating the disparity and potential security lapses that led to a shooting at Trump’s rally.

Diving Deeper:

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has raised serious concerns about the Secret Service’s allocation of security resources following a revelation that First Lady Jill Biden received four times the number of Secret Service personnel than former President Donald Trump for events in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. Grassley’s inquiry stems from whitleblowers, showing that Jill Biden had 12 agents for “post standing” at her Pittsburgh event, while Trump had only 3 for his rally in Butler.

This discrepancy is particularly striking given the increased security threats against Trump. The Secret Service had previously claimed to ramp up security for Trump due to an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate him. Despite this, the agency assigned significantly fewer agents for "post standing" at his rally compared to those assigned to Jill Biden.

Emails with the subject lines “203.080 First Lady Dr. Jill Bident to Pittsburgh, PA” and “203.080 Candidate Donald Trump to Pittsburgh, PA” detail the specific personnel assignments. The email for Jill Biden lists 12 post-standers, whereas Trump’s email lists only 3.

Grassley, known for his staunch support of government whistleblowers, obtained these emails through protected disclosures facilitated by Empower Oversight, a legal firm assisting whistleblowers' communications to Congress. Grassley’s investigation into the security lapses at Trump’s rally follows the shooting incident where Thomas Matthew Crooks nearly killed Trump, murdered rally-goer Corey Comperatore, and injured two others.

In a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Grassley pointed out the lack of a comprehensive list of Department of Homeland Security or Secret Service personnel present at the Trump rally. He also noted the absence of a total personnel breakdown for Jill Biden’s dinner.

Grassley has reiterated his request for a complete list of all personnel from every agency present at Trump’s rally. He has also sought all records and information pertaining to federal and state personnel present on July 13, 2024.

“I welcome any additional information you can provide relating to these communications and the total number of federal employees that were present that day,” Grassley wrote in his letter to Cheatle.

The disparity in security allocation has prompted questions about the Secret Service’s priorities and resource management, particularly in light of the known threats against Trump. Grassley’s continued investigation aims to shed light on these issues and ensure proper security measures are in place for all high-profile figures.