The American people are still trying to make sense of the shocking assassination attempt on President Trump. A security failure of that magnitude demands honest answers and swift accountability. Unfortunately, the Director of the Secret Service has not been properly forthcoming about the events leading up to the crisis in Pennsylvania.

In the days after the violence, the leadership of the Secret Service, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), met with members of the U.S. Senate. The briefers outlined a timeline of events leading up to and following the shooting. Senators had many questions, but only a few of us were able to ask them before the briefers ended the meeting.

The rest of our questions must be answered. Straightforward explanations of what went wrong would help fill in gaps in our understanding of the tragedy. Proper accountability would also help. For the Secret Service to begin repairing trust with the public, its director must resign. Despite the obvious breakdown in protection, she has refused to step down.

Basic Questions Remain Unanswered

By the time senators met with the Secret Service and the FBI, the basic details of the situation had been made clear. A man was able to climb onto a nearby roof and shoot a former President of the United States. The bullet tore through President Trump’s right ear, very nearly ending his life.

In our briefing, officials tried to deflect responsibility to local law enforcement. The Secret Service regularly partners with municipal police departments, relying on them to direct traffic and manage an event’s outer perimeter. Ultimately, protecting the president is the job of his security team. As the officials talked with senators, they acknowledged that the security operation was “a failure,” and they described the mistakes that led to such a preventable situation.

Sixty-two minutes before the shooting, authorities photographed the would-be assassin, marking him as a person of interest. Inexplicably, he was allowed to wander suspiciously in the background without being investigated. Numerous videos taken by rally attendees clearly show the shooter moving to the top of the sloped roof. Why weren’t officials on the stage notified at that moment? Why had agents not been watching that building’s blind side to begin with?

Agents on the stage should have been alerted and should have escorted President Trump to protection. It took the gunman seconds to fire eight shots. Compared to that moment of terror, the officials’ hour of awareness looks like a lifetime.

Pressing Officials for the Facts

The assassination attempt was the biggest Secret Service failure since President Ronald Reagan was attacked over four decades ago. Members of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have initiated inquiries. The Speaker of the House has requested a classified briefing. Congress must continue demanding explanations from those responsible for keeping the president safe and from those tasked with investigating this event.

Responding to Tragedy with Heroism

The gunman aimed his fire at President Trump, but the former commander-in-chief was not the only victim. The scope of the tragedy expanded when a rally attendee was killed. That man, Corey Comperatore, was a husband, father, dedicated citizen, and volunteer firefighter. Without hesitation, he shielded his wife and daughters, saving their lives at the cost of his. He died a hero. Two other members of the crowd were injured and are recovering.

Mr. Comperatore displayed the brightest virtues in the darkest moment, but no one – president or bystander – should have been put in such a position. The event in Pennsylvania was a direct assault on our core principles – the free exercise of speech, assembly, and political participation. The American people deserve answers to their questions, and a thorough review can help prevent such an attack from ever happening again.