Exclusive – The two victims who were injured in the July assassination attempt President-elect Trump He will attend the inauguration of the 47th President on January 20 in Washington, DC
David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were seriously injured when the gunman, Thomas Crooks, 20, shot them. She shot then-presidential candidate Trump While speaking on stage during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
“James and David greatly appreciate President Trump and his team for inviting them to attend the Inauguration Weekend,” Deutch and Copenhaver said in a statement through their attorney, Joseph Feldman. “They are honored to participate in the festivities alongside the incoming administration and other guests. President Trump has treated both of our clients as if they were family.”
Feldman added that Trump “and his team have been nothing short of amazing in keeping an open line of communication with the families and have expressed great interest in James and David’s long road to recovery.”
LR: David Dutch and James Copenhaver. (Facebook, family newsletter)
Copenhaver and Deutch had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with the president-elect after he won the 2024 election, and will be “forever connected by the horrific events that occurred on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
The third victim, Corey Comperatore, is a husband, father of two, and former fire chief Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department He died after being shot while protecting his wife and daughters from gunfire.
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Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore in an undated family photo with his daughters. Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, struck and killed Comperatore in an exchange of gunfire. Secret Service agents returned fire and killed Crooks. (Helen Compatori/Facebook)
“Our clients would like to remember that although they and President Trump will have the great honor of being together at the inauguration, there is one individual who will not be joining them, and they would like to once again send their prayers and condolences to the Superintendent and family,” Feldman said.
“As always, their support for President Trump is unwavering, and they both look forward to America coming first for the next four years.”
Both Dutch and Copenhaver were shot twice during the assassination attempt that left Trump injured in his ear. The president-elect credited his campaign staff with his survival, saying they changed a slide of his rally presentation in time for him to turn his head when Crooks’ bullet struck him.
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David Deutch emerges from Trump rally with gunshot wounds. (Facebook/Beaver County Republican Committee)
Both victims spent weeks in the hospital recovering from their injuries, which have affected their daily lives ever since, and they plan to demand accountability.
“Although they are far from recovered and, in fact, will never fully recover, the fact that they made the trip to attend the inauguration is a tribute to their strength and love for their country,” Feldman said. “Thank you so much to the President and his team for ensuring their needs were met throughout the weekend. On behalf of James and David, we want to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.”
Former President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Both victims have lingering questions about how Crooks was able to climb onto the roof of the adjacent one-story building, the American Glass Research (AGR) building, and shoot Trump about 150 yards from the candidate’s podium. The building was located near the community but technically not within the official perimeter.
Officials said the gunman Climbing HVAC equipment and piping To get to the roof of the AGR building and hide there until the shooting started around 6:11 p.m
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A chilling video has been released showing Thomas Matthew Crooks casually walking through a crowd of people in Butler, Pennsylvania, nearly two hours before former President Trump and attendees at a campaign rally were shot. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, main image, and Iron Clad USA, inset image.)
“(We) are USA“We’re pouring tons of money into security resources in this country, especially dealing with the federal government,” Feldman previously told Fox News Digital. You go to a rally to provide political support to a politician… Security is provided by the federal government, but it fails.”
Crooks also parked his car and flew a drone about 200 yards from where the former president was to speak between 3:50pm and 4pm that day. FBI Director Christopher Wray He testified during a congressional hearing on July 17 that Crooks was at the assembly site for approximately 70 minutes on the morning of the assassination attempt.
Watch Copenhaver’s point of view:
The House task force investigated in July and September Assassination attempts The Trump investigation commission released its final report in December, detailing “pre-existing conditions and failures of leadership” that led to the deadly campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
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“Various failures in planning, execution, and leadership on and before July 13, 2024, and pre-existing conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed that day, combined to create an environment in which the former President — and everyone at a campaign event — were at risk,” the report said. particle”.
House leaders recommended the government reconsider whether the Secret Service should operate as an independent agency rather than under the Department of Homeland Security, as well as who has access to Secret Service protection, as the number of VIPs receiving agency protection increases every year. Limit its funds.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
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