EXCLUSIVE – Two victims who were injured in the July assassination attempt on President-elect Trump 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 gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, fired at the then presidential candidate Trump while speaking at the podium 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,” Dutch and Copenhaver said in a statement through their attorney, Joseph Feldman. “They are honored to participate in the festivities along with the incoming administration and other guests. President Trump has treated both of our clients like family.”
Feldman added that Trump “and his team have been nothing short of spectacular in keeping the line of communication open with the families and have expressed great interest in James and David’s long road to recovery.”
L-R: David Dutch and James Copenhaver. (Facebook; family material)
Copenhaver and Dutch had the opportunity to meet and shake the president-elect’s hand after he won the 2024 election, and they will “forever be linked by the horrific events that took place on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
The third victim, Corey Comperatore — husband, father of two and former fire chief Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company — died after being shot while protecting his wife and daughters from gunfire.
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Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore is shown with his daughters in an undated family photo. Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, who tried to kill former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, struck and killed Comperatore in the crossfire. Secret Service agents returned fire and killed Crooks. (Helen Comperatore/Facebook)
“Our clients would like to remember that while they and President Trump will have the great honor of being together at the inauguration, there is one person who will not be joining them, and they want to extend their prayers and condolences once again to the Comperatore family,” Feldman said.
“As always, their support for President Trump is unwavering and they both look forward to putting America first for the next four years.”
Both Dutch and Copenhaver were shot twice during the assassination attempt that left Trump with his ear severed. The president-elect credited his campaign staff for his survival, saying they changed a slide in his rally presentation in time for him to turn his head just as Crooks’ bullet hit him.
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David Dutch leaves Trump rally with gunshot wounds. (Facebook/ Beaver County Republican Committee)
The two victims spent weeks in hospital recovering from their injuries, which have since affected their daily lives, and plan to press charges.
“Although they are far from recovered and, in fact, will never fully recover, having them go to the inauguration is a tribute to their strength and love of country,” Feldman said. “Many thanks to the President and his team for ensuring their needs were met over the weekend. On behalf of James and David, we would like 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, PA 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 nearby one-story American Glass Research (AGR) building and shoot Trump about 150 yards from the candidate’s podium. The building was located near the rally, but technically not within the official circle.
Officials said he was the attacker climbed HVAC equipment and piping to get to the roof of the AGR building and hide there until he started shooting around 18:11.
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A chilling video has been released showing Thomas Matthew Crooks casually walking through a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, nearly two hours before he opened fire on former President Trump and campaign rally attendees. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, main, and Iron Clad USA, inset.)
“[W]it’s the United States of America,” Feldman previously told Fox News Digital. “We pump tons of money into security resources in this country, especially dealing with the federal government. And you’re going to a rally to give political support to a politician…security is provided by the federal government, and it’s failing.”
Crooks also parked his vehicle and flew the drone about 200 meters from where the former president would be speaking between 3.50pm and 4pm that day. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks was at the assembly point about 70 minutes into the morning of the assassination attempt.
WATCH COPENHAVER’S POV:
The home task force investigates July and September assassination attempts on Trump’s life released its final report in December, detailing the “pre-existing conditions and leadership failures” that led to the deadly Pennsylvania rally.
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“Various failures in planning, execution and leadership prior to July 13, 2024, and existing conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed on that day, combined to create an environment in which the former president — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to serious danger,” the report said.
House leaders recommended the government reconsider whether the Secret Service should operate as an independent agency rather than under the Department of Homeland Security, and who has access to Secret Service protection, as the number of dignitaries receiving agency protection increases each year, limiting its resources.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News contributed to this report.
