Whistleblowers say most of Trump's security at Pennsylvania rally were not Secret Service: report

Department of Homeland Security whistleblowers told Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that the majority of former President Donald Trump's security at the Pennsylvania rally were not from the Secret Service. 

"Whistleblowers who have direct knowledge of the event have approached my office," Hawley wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

According to the allegations, the July 13 rally was considered to be "a 'loose' security event," the letter continued. "For example, detection canines were not used to monitor entry and detect threats in the usual manner. Individuals without proper designations were able to gain access to backstage areas."

Last weekend, Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump during a rally in Butler County. The former president was shot in the ear — having turned his head to the right preventing a direct hit to his head — and escorted off stage afterwards.

Multiple members of Congress have called out the incompetence and negligence of the Secret Service and other federal agencies for security failures that happened that day. 

Hawley said in his letter that whistleblowers have come forward and told him that most of Trump's security that day weren't Secret Service agents, but were instead part of Homeland Security.

"Whistleblower allegations suggest the majority of DHS officials were not in fact USSS agents but instead drawn from the department's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)," Hawley stated. "This is especially concerning given that HSI agents were unfamiliar with standard protocols typically used at these types of events, according to the allegations."

Next week, two House committees, Oversight and Homeland Security, have planned hearings to address the security failures at the July 13 rally. Those called to testify include FBI Director Christopher Wray, Mayorkas and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.