The FBI has opened an investigation after the Secret Service discovered a hunting stand positioned with a direct line of sight to the area where former President Donald Trump exits Air Force One in Palm Beach.According to a Fox News Digital report, the structure had been in place for several months before being identified by authorities.
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“Prior to the President’s return to West Palm Beach, USSS discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sightlineof the Air Force One landing zone,” FBI Director Kash Patel told the outlet.
“No individuals were located at the scene. The FBI has since taken the investigatory lead, flying in resources to collect all evidence from the scene, and deploying our cell phone analytics capabilities,” Patel added.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino appeared on the network Monday morning to discuss the issue, noting that the hunting stand had been “completely dismantled” and the structure flown back to FBI headquarters near Washington, D.C., for further forensic examination.
All available tools “will be applied to try and find out who put this up there and why.”
Trump rapidly boarded Air Force One using a smaller staircase on Sunday due to “increased security measures” at Palm Beach International Airport after the discovery of the hunting position.
USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi confirmed to Fox that the agency is “working closely” with the FBI and local law enforcement in Palm Beach County.
He added that agents discovered the alleged hunting stand during their “advance security preparations” prior to Trump’s arrival in Palm Beach.
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“There was no impact to any movements, and no individuals were present or involved at the location,” Guglielmi told Fox. “While we are not able to provide details about the specific items or their intent, this incident underscores the importance of our layered security measures,” he added.
The investigation comes just weeks after Ryan Routh was convicted of attempting to assassinate then-former President Trump on a Palm Beach golf course. Prosecutors said Routh had set up a sniper’s nest in bushes along a fence line overlooking the course before being apprehended by Secret Service agents.
Chilling videos surfaced late last month showing attempted Trump assassin Thomas Crooks dry-firing a handgun in a tactical stance inside his bedroom, according to footage shared online.