FBI probes hunting stand with sight line on Air Force One in Palm Beach
The FBI is investigating a hunting stand that was found in the sight line of Air Force One on Friday.
FBI Director Kash Patel told NewsNation, The Hill’s sister company, that the Secret Service “discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone” prior to President Trump arriving at Palm Beach International Airport.
“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 cellphone analytics capabilities,” Patel added.
When reached for comment, Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications at the Secret Service, said the agency “is working closely with the FBI and our law enforcement partners in Palm Beach County.” He also confirmed that the FBI is leading the investigation.
“During advance security preparations prior to the Palm Beach arrival, which included the use of technology and comprehensive physical sweeps, our teams identified items of interest near Palm Beach International Airport,” Guglielmi added. “There was no impact to any movements, and no individuals were present or involved at the location.”
A photo taken by the Secret Service and provided to The Hill shows the stand, supported by green ropes, located in a tree.
Courtesy of the U.S. Secret Service
The president departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at roughly 4:45 p.m. EDT on Friday, and arrived at Palm Beach International Airport at around 6:25 p.m. He spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club, and returns to Washington, D.C., Sunday afternoon.
Last month, a man was charged with pointing a laser beam at Marine One, the president’s helicopter, while he was on board.
One day later, a Florida jury also found a man guilty of plotting to assassinate the president while he was at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last September. The man, 59-year-old Ryan Routh, faces up to life in prison.