RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) – There are calls from Washington and all across the country to find out how a lapse in security at Saturday’s rally in Pennsylvania allowed the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump to happen.
U.S. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina held a virtual conference on Monday addressing Saturday’s incident. Sen. Tillis said something like this should have never happened.
Sen. Tillis says he’s calling on the Secret Service to explain what happened and how a gunman could get that close to the former president.
“It was a horrible day. There’s no rationale ever for violence,” said Sen. Tillis. “Whoever was ultimately responsible for taking their eye off or one square inch that put President Trump at risk needs to go.”
He said it’s not the result of someone’s honest mistake.
“Somebody has to be held accountable. This wasn’t just an honest mistake, someone in this process needs to be held accountable somewhere in this process, someone in this process needs to be identified and they need to be disciplined and terminated in my opinion,” said Sen. Tillis.
Sen. Tillis adds that questions need to be answered to find out who is at fault.
“To the people who think it was some sort of conspiracy, give me a break, but also for the people who blame it on the Secret Service. I simply don’t know,” said Sen. Tillis.
The violence against the former president raised concerns about security at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI.
Telia Kivett, Chairman of the Sampson County Republican Party, is at the RNC.
She told WECT security is tight, but attendees and delegates are not letting fear stop them from carrying out their duties.
“We had people we thought might be frightened. But I can guarantee they are not. They are motivated, they’re happy, they’re laughing. Everyone is having a great time,” said Kivett. “The security is top-notch.”
Sen. Tillis says it’s an opportunity for both sides to cool down the political rhetoric.
“I think it’s on all Republicans, all Democrats to come together to lower the temperature to measure the rhetoric and win on the basis of the policies that are best for the American people,” said Sen. Tillis.
Former President Trump says he’s now calling for unity, and Sen. Tillis believes many speakers at the RNC will shift their talking points that way following the assassination attempt.
Officers did restrict the movements of protesters at the convention on Monday, as part of enhanced security precautions established by the Secret Service.
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