US authorities obtained intelligence from a human source in recent weeks on a plot by Iran to try to assassinate Donald Trump, a development that led to the Secret Service increasing security around the former president, multiple people briefed on the matter told CNN.
There’s no indication that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who attempted to kill the former president on Saturday, was connected to the plot, the sources said.
The existence of the intelligence threat from a hostile foreign intelligence agency — and the enhanced security for Trump — raises new questions about the security lapses at the Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and how a 20-year-old man managed to access a nearby rooftop to fire shots that injured the former president.
A US national security official said the Secret Service and Trump campaign were made aware of the threat before Saturday’s rally.
“Secret Service learned of the increased threat from this threat stream,” the official told CNN. “NSC directly contacted USSS at a senior level to be absolutely sure they continued to track the latest reporting. USSS shared this information with the detail lead, and the Trump campaign was made aware of an evolving threat. In response to the increased threat, Secret Service surged resources and assets for the protection of former President Trump. All of this was in advance of Saturday.”
The Trump campaign would not disclose whether it was made aware of the Iran threat. “We do not comment on President Trump’s security detail. All questions should be directed to The United States Secret Service,” the campaign said in a statement.
多位知情人士告诉 CNN，美国当局最近几周从知情人士那里获得了有关伊朗试图暗杀唐纳德·特朗普的阴谋情报，这一事态发展导致特勤局加强了这位前总统周围的安全措施。 消息人士称，没有迹象表明周六试图刺杀前总统的潜在刺客托马斯·马修·克鲁克斯与该阴谋有关。 来自敌对外国情报机构的情报威胁存在，以及特朗普加强的安全措施，引发了新的问题：星期六在宾夕法尼亚州巴特勒举行的集会上的安全漏洞，以及一名 20 岁男子如何设法进入附近屋顶开枪打伤前总统。 一名美国国家安全官员表示，特勤局和特朗普竞选团队在周六集会之前就已经意识到威胁。 这位官员告诉美国有线电视新闻网：“特勤局了解到威胁有所增加。” “国家安全委员会直接联系了美国特勤局高层，以确保他们继续跟踪最新报告。 美国特勤局与特遣队负责人分享了这一信息，特朗普竞选团队也意识到了不断变化的威胁。为了应对日益严重的威胁，特勤局增加了人力物力来保护前总统特朗普。所有这一切都是在周六之前发生的。” 特朗普竞选团队不愿透露是否意识到伊朗威胁。 竞选团队在一份声明中表示，“我们不对特朗普总统的安保发表评论。所有问题都应向美国特勤局提出。”
