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Secret Service explanation continues to evolve one week after attempted assassination

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Secret Service explanation continues to evolve one week after attempted assassination

The Secret Service’s explanation for security lapses that allowed a 20-year-old gunman to take multiple shots at former President Trump has continued to evolve, most recently with the agency acknowledging it had denied some requests by Trump’s team for additional security.

Revelations first reported by the Washington Post that the Secret Service denied repeated requests by Trump’s security detail were just the latest in an ever-evolving explanation by the agency, which initially pushed back hard on claims it had issued such denials.

“The assertion that a member of the former president’s security team requested additional security resources that the U.S. Secret Service or the Department of Homeland Security rebuffed is absolutely false,” Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said the day after the attempt on Trump’s life.

But Guglielmi walked back that denial in response to the Washington Post, which reported that denials for more security for Trump had been an ongoing source of tension between his detail and headquarters for more than a year.

TRUMP SHOOTER THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS’ FORMER GUIDANCE COUNSELOR SAYS HE WAS ‘NOT A MENACE TO SOCIETY’

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“The Secret Service has a vast, challenging, and intricate mission,” he told the Washington Post in a statement. “Every day we work in a dynamic threat environment to ensure our protectees are safe and secure across multiple events, travel, and other difficult environments. We execute a comprehensive and layered strategy to balance personnel, technology, and specialized operational needs.”

Guglielmi explained that where the Secret Service might fall short of being able to provide resources, the agency typically leans on local and state law enforcement agencies to fill in the gaps.

“In some instances where specific Secret Service specialized units or resources were not provided, the agency made modifications to ensure the security of the protected,” Guglielmi told Fox News Digital. “This may include utilizing state or local partners to provide specialized functions or otherwise identifying alternatives to reduce public exposure of a protectee.” 

The Secret Service has also offered other explanations for the failures at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with agency Director Kimberly Cheatle telling ABC news last week that the building the former president was shot from had a “sloped roof” that would have been dangerous for agents.

Two FBI investigators scan the roof of AGR International Inc, the building adjacent to the Butler Fairgrounds, from which Matthew Thomas Crooks fired at former President Trump, on July 14, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

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PROFILER SAYS TRUMP SHOOTER, THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS, LIKELY NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, WAS ‘ORGANIZED THINKER’

“That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there’s a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn’t want to put somebody up on a sloped roof. And so, you know, the decision was made to secure the building, from inside,” she said.

Meanwhile, senators were told during a briefing on the incident last week that the Secret Service had flagged the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, as suspicious over an hour before he opened fire on Trump. The agency also revealed that a countersniper had spotted Crooks and flagged him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting.

But the briefing left many senators frustrated, with many leaving the call and ripping the agency for a lack of transparency and failing to answer detailed questions.

“It’s infuriating,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News Digital after the briefing, noting that Cheatle had admitted “there were mistakes and gaffes” by the agency leading up to the shooting.

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Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at a press conference on June 4 in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

“This was kind of a check-the-box, quick briefing. Not providing information, only gives four senators an opportunity to ask questions… this is not providing the kind of information people need,” Johnson added.

The evolving story and lack of transparency have led some lawmakers to call on Cheatle to resign, with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, arguing that the “lapse” in security “requires a change in leadership” for the agency.

 “The unexplained & inexcusable lapse in basic security measures requires a change in leadership at the Secret Service,” Cornyn said in a post on X last week.

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Northeast

Third Rhode Island hockey rink shooting victim dies and is identified

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Third Rhode Island hockey rink shooting victim dies and is identified

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A third victim has died from injuries suffered in last week’s Rhode Island rink shooting, police said, in an attack allegedly carried out by a transgender suspect.

Gerald Dorgan, the father of Rhonda Dorgan and grandfather of Aidan Dorgan, who were both killed in the attack, died from his injuries after being in critical condition, according to The Associated Press, citing Pawtucket police.

Police previously identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, 56, who fatally shot his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their adult son, Aidan Dorgan, when he opened fire at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi previously said, according to WCVB.

The alleged shooter, Robert Dorgan, right, fatally shot his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket and his son, Aidan Dorgan. Left, Police stand near the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, following a deadly shooting during a high school hockey game.  (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell; X/@VerdadEsPoder)

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The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being tackled by bystanders who intervened and quickly stopped the attack, officials said. At least three bystanders were able to contain the shooter in the middle of the stands as the crowd fled, officials said. 

Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said he was heartbroken that another person had died because of the shooting.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence,” he said in a statement.

Rhonda Dorgan’s mother, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were also wounded.

The shooter, who identified as transgender, also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said.

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Colin Dorgan, the 17-year-old son of Robert and Rhonda Dorgan and a North Providence High School senior, was on the ice playing in the game when the shooting occurred, per WPRI-TV.

RHODE ISLAND ICE RINK SHOOTING VICTIMS CONFIRMED AS SHOOTER’S DAUGHTER ALLEGES ‘VENDETTA’ AGAINST FAMILY

A split image shows Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect in the shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Rhonda Dorgan with her son, Aidan Dorgan, in a graduation photo. Authorities said Rhonda and Aidan were killed in the attack. (Roberta Esposito via Facebook; Rhonda Dorgan via Facebook)

Video from inside the arena shows players diving and fans fleeing their seats as shots rang out during the high school game. At least a dozen shots can be heard in the footage, along with people screaming as they scramble for cover.

Police have not publicly identified a motive. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves previously described the shooting as a “family dispute.” 

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Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, Robert Dorgan’s daughter from another relationship, accused the shooter of having a “vendetta” against the family.

“I just want to make sure people understand this was one person’s vendetta against their family,” Wallace-Hubbard told WPRI-TV. “We were targeted. This was very specific. It wasn’t random.”

Court records show Robert Dorgan had a documented history of conflict with relatives in recent years, including disputes tied to his gender transition, WPRI reported.

In 2020, Robert Dorgan reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender-reassignment surgery and said his father-in-law wanted him out of the family home because of it.

WATCH: PAWTUCKET POLICE RELEASE NEW DETAILS ABOUT RHODE ISLAND HOCKEY SHOOTING

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According to court documents cited by WPRI, Robert Dorgan alleged his father-in-law used a derogatory term for transgender individuals and threatened retaliation if he did not move out. The father-in-law was charged at the time, though prosecutors later dismissed the case.

Court filings also show Robert Dorgan’s then-wife initially cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” in divorce paperwork before the grounds were amended to “irreconcilable differences.”

The divorce was finalized in 2021. Paperwork from the divorce showed Robert Dorgan lived at the time in Jacksonville, Florida, and was working as a truck driver.

Also in 2020, Robert Dorgan accused his mother of assaulting him and acting in a “violent, threatening or tumultuous manner,” according to police records cited by WPRI. His mother was charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct, though the case was later dismissed, court records show.

Police stand outside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after a shooting on Feb. 16, 2026, has now left three people dead in what authorities described as a family dispute. At right is Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; X/@VerdadEsPoder)

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The dispute was also referenced in Robert Dorgan’s conflict with his father-in-law. According to court documents, Dorgan told police his father-in-law “told me that if I did not drop the assault charges against my mother that further retaliation could be expected and that was another reason to have me killed.”

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The day before the shooting, Robert Dorgan posted on X about going “BERSERK” after an actor insisted that Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., is a man. 

Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Alexis McAdams and Bonny Chu, as well as The Associated Press, contributed to this report.

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Boston, MA

MLB notes: New Red Sox pitching directors looking to keep pipeline flowing

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MLB notes: New Red Sox pitching directors looking to keep pipeline flowing


FORT MYERS, Fla. — Over the past few years the Red Sox pitching program has been completely transformed.

Since Craig Breslow took over as chief baseball officer, the Red Sox have gone from one of the worst organizations at developing young pitchers to one of the best, and now the club is overflowing with talented arms who are already making their mark in the majors.

That hasn’t gone unnoticed, and this past offseason one of the people most responsible for executing the club’s turnaround — former director of pitching Justin Willard — was hired away by the New York Mets to be their new major league pitching coach.



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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup

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Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup


Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, in the Metropolitan Division)

Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -149, Penguins +125; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights square off in a non-conference matchup.

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Pittsburgh has a 14-8-7 record at home and a 30-15-13 record overall. The Penguins have scored 197 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 10th in NHL play.

Vegas is 28-17-14 overall and 14-9-7 in road games. The Golden Knights are 27-6-8 in games they score at least three goals.

Sunday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Mantha has 21 goals and 23 assists for the Penguins. Benjamin Kindel has six goals and one assist over the last 10 games.

Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.

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LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-1-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Penguins: None listed.

Golden Knights: None listed.

___

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.





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