Butler Township Commissioner Edward Natali has come forward to address misconceptions surrounding a local officer's involvement in an incident about an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Commissioner Natali explained that the role of the local police during the incident was strictly confined to traffic management, not security enforcement at the event's venue.

On July 17, during an interview with Breitbart News Daily, Natali detailed the sequence of events surrounding the assassination attempt.

Media narratives had inaccurately placed blame on a local officer, stating the officer had a chance to intercept the assailant, Thomas Crooks, before actions escalated.

Contrary to these reports, Natali emphasized that the officer's duties were limited to managing vehicle flow and not engaging with potential threats.

Details of the Incident Unfold

According to Commissioner Natali, when the assailant appeared, aiming his rifle, the officer was stationed for traffic duties and not equipped or positioned to counter such a severe threat.

The suspect's sudden aggressive act placed the officer in immediate danger. "The suspect turns his rifle and points it at the head of my officer," Natali recounted. The officer, caught off guard, attempted to defend himself by drawing his weapon but tragically fell and sustained injuries in the process.

Natali passionately defended the officer's attempts to respond under adverse conditions. The officer's reaction might have inadvertently rushed the attacker despite falling and getting hurt, causing a crucial delay.

"It’s not that he didn’t want to engage," Natali shared, "he could not engage, as he let go of the roof to try to grab his gun, but he fell backward and was injured in the process."

The Broader Security Arrangement

Further elaborating on the security preparations, Natali criticized the media's quick judgment and pointed out that the actual security responsibility lay with higher agencies, including the Secret Service.

He mentioned that Secret Officer Kimberly Cheatle's responses were insufficient given the gravity of the situation, suggesting an oversight in high-level security deployment that might have contributed to the incident's escalation.

During the interview, Natali revealed that discussions regarding the building from where the assailant operated had occurred earlier in the week.

He affirmed that these were known, but his team's focus remained on traffic. "It’s still being investigated. I’m going to say that that building was discussed earlier in the week. That was confirmed to me," he stated, clarifying the scope of his team's knowledge and responsibilities.

Commissioner Natali's Candid Reflections

In a rare moment of candidness, Natali expressed frustration towards the criticisms facing his team and the Secret Service, using a stark analogy that questioned the competence of higher security measures.

"Maybe she should go back to guarding Pepsi bottles versus protecting our presidents," he remarked, later apologizing for his snarkiness.

Conclusion

Butler Township Commissioner Edward Natali clarified that the local officer's role during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was limited to traffic management, not security enforcement.

Natali defended the officer, explaining that the officer was not in a position to counter the threat posed by the assailant, Thomas Crooks, who suddenly aimed a rifle at the officer.

Natali criticized the media for inaccurately blaming the officer and emphasized that higher agencies, including the Secret Service, were responsible for security at the event.