In a dramatic turn of events following a violent incident at a rally in Pennsylvania, two men who sustained gunshot wounds during an attempted assassination of Donald Trump are now holding the federal government accountable through legal action.
James Copenhaver and David Dutch, the two individuals injured in the attack, filed lawsuits in the Western District of Pennsylvania on Monday. Their legal claims target the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), accusing them of serious negligence in failing to adequately secure the rally venue in Butler, Pennsylvania. Central to their argument is the accusation that the shooter, Thomas Crooks, exploited the unsecured AGR Complex roof to execute his attack.
In these lawsuits, the United States government is the named defendant, with both men joined by their wives in this legal endeavor. The plaintiffs reference findings from congressional investigations which scrutinized the Secret Service’s shortcomings on the day of the assassination attempt. According to the lawsuits, Senate conclusions pointed to a series of avoidable errors by the Secret Service, which they argue directly contributed to the shooting.
The extent of the injuries suffered by the plaintiffs is significant. Dutch, who was shot in the abdomen, has endured multiple surgeries as part of his recovery. Copenhaver, who was struck by bullets in both his abdomen and left arm, continues to live with bullet fragments in his body, underscoring the lasting impact of the incident.
On that fateful day, the rally was abruptly interrupted as Secret Service agents rushed former President Donald Trump off the stage, a moment captured in widely circulated photographs. This incident, occurring on July 13, 2024, remains a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities present at high-profile public events.
Former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage by Secret Service agents during a rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The shooting occurred on July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. Crooks grazed Trump’s ear with a bullet and was killed by a Secret Service sniper seconds after he opened fire from a nearby rooftop.
Corey Comperatore, a former volunteer fire chief who attended the event, was killed while shielding his family.
The lawsuits detail a “cascade of preventable failures” by the Secret Service that allowed the shooting to occur, specifically pointing to the failure to secure the complex roof despite warnings that it was a vulnerability.
James Copenhaver and David Dutch were shot and injured at a rally by Thomas Matthew Crooks on July 13. Both men are suing the federal government, alleging security failures by the U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. (Fox News)
“The defendant United States of America, by and through the [Secret Service], committed egregious failures and failed to abide by and adhere to various protocols, policies and procedures which directly and proximately caused the shooting and/or allowed it to occur,” the lawsuits read.
“The assassination attempt on President Trump’s life was entirely preventable and was caused, in whole or in part, by the failures of the USSS in the days leading up to the event as well as on the day of the assassination attempt,” the complaints continued.
In addition to security failures, the complaints argue that the Secret Service created an environment where critical information could not be shared because it established fragmented, separate command centers rather than a single unified post.
Then-Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face as Secret Service agents surround him and escort him off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024, after shots were reported at the rally. (Rebecca Droke/AFP/Getty Images)
Agents also relied on inadequate communication methods, the lawsuits state, such as using cellphones to pass messages between trailers instead of utilizing centralized radio channels, which “severely impeded” the transmission of safety information.
The legal filings also note that authorities observed Crooks acting erratically, using a range finder, and becoming the subject of a search in the hours leading up to the shooting. The Secret Service has essentially admitted to these failures, the lawsuits argue.
David Dutch walks away from a Trump rally with visible gunshot wounds. (Republican Committee of Beaver County)
“Indeed, the [Secret Service] has itself acknowledged that its failures included ‘breakdowns in communication, technological issues, and human failure’ all of which contributed to the shooting, and that its conduct constituted ‘an operational failure that the Secret Service will carry as a reminder of the critical importance of its zero-fail mission and the need for continuous improvement,’” they state. “Further, numerous agents were held accountable for their acts and omissions, including suspension without pay, and those individuals were placed on restricted duty and/or moved into non-operational positions.”
Both lawsuits seek $150,000 in damages, as well as interest and attorney fees.
Fox News has reached out to the White House, Secret Service and DHS for comment.
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