OMISSION: NBC Nightly News Fails to Report Secret Service Suspensions
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OMISSION: NBC Nightly News Fails to Report Secret Service Suspensions

The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump is upon us and with it, news of the actions taken by the Secret Service after reviewing the many breakdowns that led to the current President of the United States almost getting gunned down in Butler, Pennsylvania. This is without a doubt a story of enormous national import, and yet, NBC News has not seen fit to cover it. For context, watch ABC’s report, which aired tonight (click “expand” to view transcript): ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 7/10/25 6:42 PM DAVID MUIR: Tonight, nearly one year after the assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump, we have learned that six Secret Service agents have now been suspended. Here's Pierre Thomas. PIERRE THOMAS: Tonight, for the first time, the Secret Service revealing that it suspended a half dozen agents for their role in the, quote, “operational failure” that led to a nearly successful assassination of then candidate Donald Trump. DONALD TRUMP: Take a look at what happened… THOMAS: Sources telling ABC News those disciplined included supervisory-level and line agents, with suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days without pay. In the wake of the attack, which killed firefighter Cory Comperatore and nearly cost Trump his life, the Secret Service faced withering criticism on Capitol Hill. Today, the agency again admitting to a stunning list of mistakes including a failure to coordinate with local authorities, a failure to secure the rooftop with a direct line of sight to Trump's podium. And anti-drone technology that malfunctioned. RONALD ROWE: We could have maybe stopped him. THOMAS: Tonight the agency announcing a number of reforms ranging from improved information sharing with local authorities, to better training and deployment of technology, David. MUIR: Pierre Thomas live in Washington. Pierre, thank you. This was a perfectly serviceable albeit brief report. The Secret Service conducted a review after Butler, found glaring deficiencies, and these are the things they did to correct them: from disciplinary action to the acquisition of new equipment. Good form. The CBS Evening News ran a similarly-formatted report last night which ran a bit longer because it was a bit more detailed and included portions of an interview with Deputy Director Matt Quinn. A followup was teased for tonight’s Evening News but did not run. Again, a perfectly serviceable update. NBC, though, found no time on the Nightly News for such reporting. There was simply no time over the past couple of days to run such a report. NBC could simply not bump more important matters such as the Cincinnati boy rescued from a claw machine, the introduction of Diabetes Barbie, Paul McCartney’s new tour, and anchor Tom Llamas chowing down on a Chicago Italian beef sandwich.  There’s still time for NBC to come out with this reporting ahead of the actual anniversary of the shooting at Butler (7/13). The very least that any self-respecting media outlet can do is to lay out the reforms and changes implemented so that Butler happens again. Click “expand” to view the transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on the CBS Evening News on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025: CBS EVENING NEWS 7/9/25 6:45 PM MAURICE DuBOIS: It has been nearly a year since then-candidate Donald Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Now, Matt Quinn has given our Nicole Sganga his first interview since he was named Deputy Director of the Secret Service in May. Quinn talked about accountability and moving forward. Nicole? NICOLE SGANGA: Maurice, CBS News has learned six U.S. Secret Service personnel were suspended without pay for up to six weeks, then placed into restricted duty roles with less operational responsibility. It's the first we’re learning of suspensions since the agency launched its internal investigation. Quinn told me that the Secret Service won’t be terminating employees. Instead, he says the agency is laser focused on addressing operational failures that played out last July 13th. To do that, they've introduced a new fleet of military-grade drones. There were notably no drones at that July 13th campaign rally last year. The agency is also rolling out new mobile command posts that allow agents to communicate over radio directly with local law enforcement. That capability didn't exist last year, and it prevented the Secret Service from learning about Thomas Crooks' whereabouts until shots were fired.  And so, for the average American who remembers what happened on July 13th, if they are asking has the Secret Service done enough, what's the answer? MATT QUINN: The answer is that Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler. Butler was an operational failure. And we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again and executing our strategic plan to increase technology, to improve communications, to make sure our personnel are well trained, equipped, and deployed. SGANGA: And Maurice, all of the agency's radio communications will now be recorded, and we will have an inside look at new technology deployed by the U.S. Secret Service tomorrow on CBS Mornings and right here on the CBS Evening News. DuBOIS: Looking forward to that. Nicole Sganga, thanks so much.