More details have emerged about the Secret Service suspensions following last July’s assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the revelations are sparking fresh anger inside the agency.

Six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay earlier this year over security failures during the attempted assassination that left Trump with a bloody ear wound and firefighter Corey Comperatore dead. But a deeper look reveals that while lower-level agents are facing discipline, the supervisors who oversaw the flawed security plan were promoted instead of held accountable.

RealClearPolitics’ Susan Crabtree reported that key supervisors who signed off on the Butler security plan and participated in final walkthroughs before the rally not only avoided discipline but received “BIG PROMOTIONS.” One of those supervisors, Nick Menster, was promoted to the No. 2 position on Lara and Eric Trump’s protective detail. Another, Nick Olszewski, was appointed as the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Inspection Division, responsible for overseeing accountability and integrity within the agency.

The promotions have left many rank-and-file agents frustrated, especially given the seriousness of the security failures on July 13, 2024, when shooter Thomas Crooks managed to open fire from a nearby rooftop during Trump’s rally, narrowly missing a fatal shot as Trump turned his head.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran, who was leading the Trump detail during the rally, has not faced repercussions, leaving agents questioning why accountability appears selective. Sources within the agency told Crabtree that while the initial disciplinary recommendations for the suspended agents ranged up to 52 days without pay, legal negotiations reduced those penalties to between 10 and 42 days.

Larry Berger, an attorney representing several of the suspended agents, confirmed that lighter sanctions were negotiated, adding, “We avoided more severe sanctions, and now we’re assessing the next steps with respect to these discussions.”

The six agents suspended include three women—Myotsoty Perez, Meredith Bank, and Dana Dubrey—and three men—Tim Burke, Brian Pardini, and John Marciniak. Insiders say these agents, some relatively inexperienced and placed in critical positions without adequate support, are “taking the fall” for senior leadership failures that left security vulnerabilities at a high-risk outdoor rally.

Fox News’ Jesse Watters highlighted the suspensions this week, noting the timing comes just days before the first anniversary of the Butler shooting—a moment many Americans will never forget as they watched Trump, blood streaming down his face, raise a defiant fist before being ushered offstage.

Matt Quinn, the Secret Service’s deputy director, acknowledged the agency’s shortcomings in an interview with CBS News, saying, “We are laser-focused on fixing the root cause of the problem,” while adding, “We aren’t going to fire our way out of this.” Instead, Quinn promised reforms aimed at addressing the “deficiencies that put us in that situation.”

The Butler incident led to a bipartisan House report labeling the assassination attempt “preventable,” citing leadership and training failures within the agency. Critics argue the agency’s culture has allowed senior officials to escape accountability while shifting blame to those with the least power to push back.

President Trump, who has continued campaigning vigorously despite the attempt on his life, has remained focused on law and order, using the incident to underscore the importance of competent leadership and secure event protocols. He has also continued to highlight his administration’s efforts to strengthen national security and law enforcement, warning that “America cannot afford complacency.”

The tragic death of Corey Comperatore and the near assassination of a former and current president demand accountability, not convenient scapegoats. As the agency prepares for a busy 2026 campaign season, many are calling for a thorough, public reckoning to ensure that the failures of Butler are never repeated—and that those truly responsible are the ones held to account.

Stay tuned as more internal documents and congressional oversight hearings are expected in the coming months, shedding further light on how close America came to losing its next president and why the system failed when it mattered most.