Two men injured during a Pennsylvania rally, where an assassination attempt on Donald Trump occurred, are suing the federal government. James Copenhaver and David Dutch filed lawsuits on Monday in the Western District of Pennsylvania. They claim the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security were negligent in securing the event premises in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The lawsuits cite the AGR Complex roof used by shooter Thomas Crooks as a vulnerability. Both men, accompanied by their wives, named the U.S. government as the defendant. Congressional investigations reviewed the Secret Service’s failures on the day of the assassination attempt. Senate findings concluded these failures directly led to the shooting, describing it as a “cascade of preventable failures,” according to the lawsuits.
Dutch sustained an abdominal gunshot wound and underwent several surgeries. Copenhaver was hit in the abdomen and arm, with fragments remaining in his body. The shooting occurred on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Crooks grazed Trump’s ear and was killed by a Secret Service sniper shortly after firing from a rooftop.
Corey Comperatore, a former volunteer fire chief, died while shielding his family during the event. The legal documents detail preventable failures by the Secret Service that allowed the shooting, pointing to the unprotected complex roof, despite known vulnerabilities.
The lawsuits assert that the United States, via the Secret Service, committed egregious failures in protocols, contributing to the shooting. Complaints argue that these security failures were avoidable and impacted the event both days before and on the day of the attempt.
The court filings also state the Secret Service created a fragmented command environment, hindering essential information sharing. Agents relied on flawed communication methods, such as cellphones, impairing safety message transmission.
The lawsuits note that Crooks exhibited erratic behavior before the shooting, including using a range finder and prompting a search. The Secret Service admitted to failures, citing breakdowns in communication, technology issues, and human errors. The agency acknowledged these as operational failures and emphasized its zero-fail mission’s importance.
Several agents faced accountability measures, including suspension without pay and reassignment to non-operational roles. Both lawsuits demand $150,000 in damages, plus interest and attorney fees. Fox News reached out to the White House, Secret Service, and DHS for comment.