National security under the Biden administration has been terrible. But new developments highlight just how bad it really is.
And new national security problems linked to Trump’s shooter have Americans worried.
In a shocking revelation that has left many questioning the integrity of federal security agencies, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) has disclosed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of former President Donald Trump, had multiple encrypted messaging accounts based overseas.
These accounts, located in Germany, New Zealand, and Belgium, have raised serious concerns about the ease with which a young healthcare aide was able to communicate on platforms notoriously difficult for U.S. law enforcement to access.
Rep. Waltz, a former Green Beret and one of the 13 members of the task force investigating the attempted assassination at the Butler rally, expressed deep frustration with the lack of transparency and urgency from federal agencies.
“We still haven’t learned a lot. We haven’t learned that much about those overseas accounts,” Waltz told reporters, according to Fox News. “We do know that they were in, if I get this correctly, Belgium, New Zealand, and Germany.”
Waltz’s remarks underscore the disturbing reality that Crooks, a 19-year-old with a seemingly mundane job as a healthcare aide, was using encrypted platforms that are based in countries where it is notoriously challenging for U.S. law enforcement to conduct investigations.
“Why does a 19-year-old kid who is a healthcare aide need encrypted platforms not even based in the United States, but based abroad, where most terrorist organizations know it is harder for our law enforcement to get into? That’s a question I’ve had since day one,” Waltz added.
JUST IN — Congressman Mike Waltz says the Trump shooter had three encrypted accounts OVERSEAS, at the same time we're having an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, per FBI briefing
pic.twitter.com/uGIIqiGLay— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 19, 2024
The Florida congressman did not mince words when it came to the failures of the FBI and the Secret Service. Waltz criticized these agencies for withholding critical information regarding their investigations, stating that such secrecy has only compounded the nation’s vulnerability.
“They need to be releasing information as they come across it because this wasn’t an isolated incident,” Waltz urged.
This statement brings to light a larger issue within federal security agencies: the troubling pattern of withholding information from the public, even in situations that pose an imminent threat to national security.
The American people have a right to know the extent of the danger they face, especially when it concerns the life of a former president who remains one of the most influential figures in the nation.
Waltz’s revelations about Crooks’ overseas accounts also bring into focus a broader and more disturbing pattern of threats against Trump. The congressman cited a foiled plot by a Pakistani national who had hired hitmen to assassinate Trump and other U.S. officials.
This plot, along with the Butler rally shooting, highlights a growing and persistent threat against Trump, a threat that federal agencies appear either unwilling or unable to fully address.
The fact that Crooks was able to evade Secret Service security on the day of the Butler rally, climb onto a rooftop within 150 yards of Trump, and take several shots at him is a chilling testament to the failure of these agencies.
Crooks not only managed to fire at Trump but also tragically killed a member of the crowd and critically injured two others. That Trump was hit in the ear but managed to move his head at the last second, sparing his life, is nothing short of a miracle. Yet, this near-tragedy has exposed severe deficiencies in the protection of a former president.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans, especially those in positions of power and responsibility. The complacency and lack of transparency from federal agencies in the wake of such a grave threat cannot be tolerated.
The American people deserve better; they deserve agencies that are not only capable of protecting their leaders but also willing to communicate openly about the threats they face.
Moreover, the use of encrypted messaging platforms based overseas by a young man like Crooks raises significant concerns about the ease with which individuals can access these tools to plan and execute attacks.
It is no secret that terrorist organizations and other malign actors have long used such platforms to evade detection by U.S. authorities. That Crooks was able to do the same raises alarming questions about the vulnerabilities within our own national security infrastructure.
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump at the Butler rally is not just an isolated incident but a reflection of a larger problem. The federal agencies tasked with protecting our leaders and securing our nation must be held accountable for their failures.
There must be a thorough and transparent investigation into how Crooks was able to plot and attempt such an attack, and why critical information about his overseas accounts was not disclosed earlier.
Furthermore, the American people deserve answers as to why these agencies have failed to address the growing threats against Trump, particularly from foreign actors. The fact that a Pakistani national was able to hire hitmen to target Trump and other officials should have set off alarm bells within these agencies. Instead, it seems that the federal response has been sluggish and insufficient.
In light of these revelations, there must be a renewed focus on strengthening the security measures surrounding former President Trump and other high-profile figures. This includes not only bolstering physical security at events like the Butler rally but also enhancing the ability of federal agencies to monitor and intercept communications on encrypted platforms based overseas.
The use of such platforms by a would-be assassin like Crooks is a clear indication that our current security protocols are inadequate.
It is imperative that Congress takes immediate action to ensure that federal agencies have the tools and resources they need to effectively counter these threats.
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