The Secret Service failed to protect Donald Trump. Can the organization step up now?
Modern history is full of instances in which limited information about an attack or investigation fueled the proliferation of rumors and conspiracy theories. A 2019 bulletin by the FBI said conspiracy theories are likely to lead to violence domestically. When information is over-classified, the rumor mill intensifies even further.
The July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump is now following a similar pattern as prominent figures give airtime and credence to any number of wild theories. The response from law enforcement has been far too quiet. There might be no way to persuade the most conspiratorial-minded Americans to abandon their interpretations. But there is a strong public interest in conducting the investigation into this attack in a prompt and transparent way.
An independent and thorough investigation by the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police is underway. This must be exhaustive and thorough.
A thorough review of the Secret Service detail protecting Mr. Trump should also be immediately conducted. What, if anything, differed from protocol? What needs to changed to protect the candidates of every party? There are many sensitivities around capabilities and procedures — which should be respected. The Secret Service must also understand that the American public have legitimate questions about what went wrong.
Frequent briefings should update the public with new information, answers to previous questions and details on what has been learned by investigators. There should be a regular cadence to these updates. The government should use these briefings to share information and debunk conspiracies. This is critical to informing the public and ensuring history is accurate. Frequent updates will enable law enforcement to deliver facts first.
If the public does not receive reliable information, conspiracies will fill the vacuum, causing potentially insurmountable damage to the office of the presidency, law enforcement and our nation.
The American public will rightfully demand that the process be exhaustive, thorough and transparent. The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security must rebuff their natural tendencies to be secretive and to avoid difficult questions. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas should embrace disclosure and instruct FBI and Secret Service leadership to update the public at every reasonable opportunity.
Clarity, accuracy and transparency are in the nation’s best interest.
J. Peter Donald, New York. The writer is a former assistant police commissioner for the New York Police Department and a former spokesman for the FBI.