Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris dismissed concerns raised by former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle that the sloped roof used by the shooter to attempt to assassinate former President Trump was unsafe for law enforcement officers. Paris made this statement during his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, where he oversaw the state and local law enforcement’s partnership with the Secret Service during Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Rep. Michael Guest challenged Cheatle’s assessment by recounting his experience at the site of the shooting and pointing out that he and other lawmakers were able to easily traverse the roof, despite being older than the shooter.
Lawmakers questioned Paris about all aspects of security at the Butler rally, with the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the incident limiting the details he could provide. Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, also testified alongside Paris, offering expert testimony on leading police and running security. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who filmed himself climbing the roof where the shooter fired on Trump, expressed frustration at Cheatle’s claim that the steepness of the roof would prevent Secret Service agents from being up there. Gimenez, who is 70 years old, highlighted that he was able to move around on the roof without difficulty, undermining Cheatle’s safety concerns.
The testimony from Paris and other law enforcement officials contradicted Cheatle’s assessment of the safety of the sloped roof, emphasizing that law enforcement officers were capable of navigating the area without issue. Paris’s statements came in response to Rep. Michael Guest’s questions about the feasibility of standing on the roof, which was challenged by Guest and other lawmakers who visited the scene of the shooting. The FBI’s ongoing investigation into the incident limited the amount of information that Paris and other officials were able to provide during their testimony.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez’s demonstration of how easily he could navigate the roof further called into question Cheatle’s safety concerns regarding the slope of the roof. Gimenez, who is 70 years old, highlighted his ability to move around on the roof without difficulty, effectively refuting Cheatle’s claims. The frustration expressed by Gimenez and other lawmakers at Cheatle’s assessment underscored the need for thorough and accurate evaluations of security concerns, especially in high-profile events involving political figures like former President Trump.
Overall, the testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee revealed conflicting assessments of the safety of the sloped roof used by the shooter during the attempt to assassinate former President Trump. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris and other law enforcement officials dismissed former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s concerns, citing their own ability to navigate the roof without issue. The ongoing FBI investigation into the incident limited the amount of detailed information that officials could provide, but the demonstration by lawmakers like Rep. Carlos Gimenez emphasized the need for accurate assessments of security concerns in similar events in the future.
