Two men who suffered gunshot wounds during an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally have filed lawsuits against the federal government. James Copenhaver and David Dutch initiated separate but similar legal actions on Monday, claiming that the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were grossly negligent in ensuring the security of the event held in Butler, Pennsylvania.
These lawsuits highlight the use of the AGR Complex roof by shooter Thomas Crooks, which they argue was not properly secured. The legal documents name the United States government as the defendant. Copenhaver and Dutch’s spouses also join them in the litigation.
Congressional investigations reviewed the Secret Service’s shortcomings on the day of the assassination attempt. A Senate conclusion identified these failures as direct contributors to the shooting, describing them as a ‘cascade of preventable failures.’
During the incident, Dutch was shot in the abdomen and required multiple surgeries. Copenhaver suffered bullet wounds to his abdomen and left arm, with fragments remaining in his body, as his complaint detailed.
The incident took place on July 13, 2024, at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Crooks fired shots from a nearby rooftop, grazing Trump’s ear with a bullet, before being killed by a Secret Service sniper. Corey Comperatore, a former volunteer fire chief, lost his life while protecting his family during the chaos.
The lawsuits elaborate on the ‘cascade of preventable failures’ by the Secret Service, specifically accusing the agency of neglecting to secure the complex roof despite warnings of its vulnerability.
The legal actions allege, The United States, through the [Secret Service], committed egregious oversights by failing to follow established protocols, directly leading to the shooting. The assassination attempt was preventable, attributed in part to the failures of the Secret Service before and during the event.
Besides noting security lapses, the lawsuits argue that the Secret Service compromised information sharing by creating fragmented command centers instead of a unified post. Furthermore, they claim agents relied on ineffective communication methods by using cellphones instead of centralized radio channels, which hindered the spread of critical safety information.
Authorities observed Crooks’ unusual behavior, including the use of a range finder, and even conducted a search for him hours prior to the shooting. The Secret Service acknowledged these failures, according to the lawsuits.
The lawsuits highlight a statement from the Secret Service acknowledging their missteps, noting that ‘breakdowns in communication, technological issues, and human failure’ all played a part in the incident. Consequently, some agents faced suspensions without pay and were reassigned to non-operational roles.
The plaintiffs are seeking $150,000 in damages, plus interest and attorney fees. Fox News has sought comments from the White House, Secret Service, and DHS on this matter.