MILWAUKEE — In the wake of an assassination attempt on Former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, a former CIA officer says security in and around the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee may change.
TMJ4's Ryan Jenkins and Susan Kim talked with retired CIA officer Phil Humphries Saturday night to dissect what may be in store for Milwaukee.
According to Humphries, the shooting will change the situational awareness of the US Secret Service and other cooperating agencies. This could mean anything from expanding the security zone to bringing in additional tactical teams — or both, according to Humphries.
Delegates are set to have a welcome party Sunday ahead of the RNC at Henry Maier Festival Park. Security may increase, but Humphries says there is still a risk.
Humphries says investigators must also determine if the shooter worked alone or if they were part of a larger group.
"If it is determined the person is a lone wolf operator, then their concern will be a copycat," Humphries said. "If it is determined he was part of a larger group, then they are going to be concerned with the possibility of a second attempt."
Protests at the RNC may also be impacted due to the assassination attempt, according to Humphries.
"There may be an effort to move it back, if they are not going to do that their option may be to put additional personnel in there," he said.
Groups like the Coalition to March on the RNC reaffirmed their intent in a press release to have a family-friendly march on Monday, July 15th, along the route they had previously agreed upon with the City of Milwaukee.
"Our points of unity are in opposition to the entire Republican agenda, not solely one candidate or politician," they wrote in the release.
It is still unknown the changes that may be made to RNC security, but Saturday TMJ4's Kaylee Staral and Mariam Mackar witnessed security sweeping the security zone and the Fiserv Forum following the attempt on the former president's life.
See all of TMJ4's Republican National Convention coverage here.
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