Nearly one year after the shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, six members of the U.S. Secret Service have been suspended without pay, raising new questions about security failures.
Shooter Breached Rooftop Security
On July 13, 2024, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to climb onto a rooftop overlooking the outdoor rally venue. From there, he opened fire on Trump and the crowd below.
Trump was struck by a bullet that grazed his ear. Tragically, one rally attendee was killed by a gunshot to the head, and two others were injured—one critically.
Crooks was later shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper after discharging multiple rounds.
Suspensions Announced for Six Agents
On Wednesday night, officials confirmed that six Secret Service personnel involved in the event’s planning and execution had been suspended. The agents, whose identities were initially withheld, were taken off active duty for up to six weeks and reassigned to lower-level roles with limited responsibilities.
“We’re not going to fix this by simply firing people,” said Matt Quinn, Deputy Director of the Secret Service, in an interview with CBS News. “We’re focusing on identifying the root failures and correcting them.”
Quinn went on to acknowledge the agency’s responsibility: “Secret Service is fully accountable for what happened in Butler. That was a breakdown in our operations, and we’re working to make sure it never happens again.”
EXCLUSIVE: The Secret Service suspended six personnel without pay as the agency faced intense scrutiny after the assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, nearly a year ago.
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) July 9, 2025
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn tells CBS News' @NicoleSganga… pic.twitter.com/pjqH4V6pGg
Whistleblowers Point to Lack of Accountability at the Top
By Thursday, RealClearPolitics journalist Susan Crabtree released the names of the suspended agents. She also reported that key senior supervisors who approved the final Butler security plan were not disciplined.
Among those still in prominent roles are:
- Nick Menster – Now the deputy lead for Lara and Eric Trump’s protection detail.
- Nick Olszewski – Promoted to Special Agent in Charge of the Inspection Division, the internal unit responsible for maintaining agency standards and accountability.
According to Crabtree, less experienced agents were “set up to fail,” while seasoned personnel who questioned the gaps in rooftop security were ignored.
Who Are the Suspended Agents?
Here are the six Secret Service agents suspended following the Butler rally incident:
- Myotsoty Perez – A relatively inexperienced agent assigned to the Trump detail, who happened to be on rotation during the Butler rally. She was designated as the “site agent” in charge of venue security that day.
- Meredith Bank – A veteran from the Pittsburgh Field Office who served as the “lead agent” overseeing operations during Trump’s visit. She reportedly informed Perez that supervisor Nick Menster would be asking about law enforcement coverage on the AGR building’s roof—but that question was never raised, according to transcripts.
- Dana Dubrey – A mid-level agent also based in Pittsburgh, who served as Perez’s “site counterpart” during the event.
- Tim Burke – Head of the Pittsburgh Field Office, responsible for broader security logistics in the region.
- Brian Pardini – Deputy chief of the Pittsburgh office and involved in planning and oversight.
- John Marciniak – A Uniformed Division counter-sniper assigned to the rally amid heightened concerns over Iranian threats to Trump. He reportedly had just two days to prepare a plan—far less than the usual five.
Legal Action May Be Looming
There are growing reports that several of the suspended agents may pursue legal action against the Secret Service, claiming they were scapegoated for systemic failures beyond their control.
🚨🚨EXCLUSIVE AND #BREAKING: The real story behind the six Secret Service suspensions over Butler failures:
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) July 10, 2025
Key supervisors who signed off on the Butler security plan and two who were on the final walkthroughs before the J13 rally were never disciplined but instead received BIG… pic.twitter.com/Thp4XjJMVH
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