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House task force releases final report on Trump assassination attempts
Washington — The House task force investigating the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump released a final report on its probe on Tuesday, presenting a series of recommendations to combat future security failures.
“The Task Force found that the tragic and shocking events in Butler, Pennsylvania were preventable and should not have happened. There was not, however, a singular moment or decision that allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks to nearly assassinate the former President,” the 180-page report said, noting that “various failures … coalesced to create an environment in which the former President — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger.”
Over the course of the investigation, the task force said it conducted 46 interviews, reviewed 18,000 pages of documents and visited the incident sites in Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach.
The House voted to establish the panel following the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, where a gunman opened fire during a rally and a bullet grazed the former president’s ear. Secret Service snipers shot and killed the gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The Secret Service came under intense scrutiny following the incident, and its director soon resigned.
The task force, made up of seven Republicans and six Democrats, also looked into a second assassination attempt on Sept. 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida, which was foiled. Trump had been golfing when a Secret Service agent discovered a man with a rifle who was waiting along the tree line of the course.
The panel held its final hearing last week with testimony from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe, who acknowledged the agency’s “abject failure” in the July shooting. Rowe outlined a series of changes he had implemented at the agency since the assassination attempt, including an aviation unit to oversee drones at events with protectees, along with shifting its Office of Investigations to the Office of Field Operations.
The report comes after the panel issued an interim report in October saying the July 13 incident was “preventable” and outlined communications and planning shortcomings. The panel said in the preliminary report that “fragmented lines of communication” allowed the gunman to “evade law enforcement” and noted that law enforcement had multiple opportunities to engage with the gunman.
Task force chairman Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican whose district includes Butler, said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” last week that the task force’s objective since day one has been to try to help restore trust and confidence in the Secret Service. He said the agency was likely at “the lowest ebb” in its history, while acknowledging the relentless pressure on agents.
“You’ve got to be ready every single moment for anything that could possibly happen. Is that a difficult task? Yes. Is it almost impossible?” Kelly said Sunday. “But you know what’s not impossible, our dedication to the fact that we’re going to do the best we can do every single day to ensure that the American people have the faith and trust and confidence they must have in us.”
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Why you should open a $10,000 long-term CD for 2025
Withdrawing $10,000 from your savings account to deposit it elsewhere isn’t a move that should be taken lightly. It can take an extended period to build up those savings, so accessing those funds should be approached strategically and carefully, particularly in today’s cooling interest rate climate. With inflation dramatically lower than what it was two years ago, the federal funds rate has since been reduced multiple times. The next and final cut of 2024 is widely expected when the Federal Reserve meets again on December 17 and 18.
In this climate, then, savers should consider moving $10,000 into a certificate of deposit (CD) account. And they should strongly consider depositing it into a long-term CD, which matures in more than 12 months, specifically. Below, we’ll explain why.
See how much more interest you could earn on your money with a long-term CD here.
Why you should open a $10,000 long-term CD for 2025
A $10,000 deposit into a long-term CD is a significant financial commitment, thanks to the fixed nature of CD rates and the early withdrawal penalties savers will need to pay to gain access to their money prematurely. That said, it can still be an advantageous move heading into 2025 for all of the following reasons:
It can earn you thousands of dollars in interest
A 2-year CD comes with a 4.25% interest rate now while a 3-year CD has the same rate. That equates to $868.06 and $1,329.26, respectively, upon account maturity. If you deposit more money or look for a longer term or higher rate, you’ll earn even more. Compare that to the unpredictable returns you may be relying on tied to other savings accounts and investments and the benefits of a $10,000 long-term CD become even clearer. That noted, if you’re looking for the highest rates and best terms, it may require the use of an online bank to obtain both.
Get started with a top CD account online now.
It won’t become less valuable as interest rates are reduced
Interest rate reductions can be a big boost for borrowers while causing a major headache for savers. With rates on traditional savings accounts and high-yield savings accounts variable, the returns savers earn on any money in these accounts are seemingly set to be reduced in the weeks and months ahead. The same can’t be said for long-term CDs. If you open one at one of the rates noted above — and rates are cut in 2025 — that $868.06 or $1,329.26 will remain the same. In an unpredictable economic climate, this security and predictability is a major feature.
It will protect you from market swings – and unnecessary spending
You can spend $10,000 in a much shorter period than it took to accumulate it. It can be beneficial, then, to protect that money both from inevitable market swings and adjustments to come in 2025 and beyond — as well as from your unnecessary spending habits. For many savers, if they have access to the money, they’ll use it. If they don’t, however, they’ll learn better ways to manage their existing funds. And a long-term CD, with hefty early withdrawal penalties that could wipe out all of the interest earned to date, is a good way to encourage these healthier spending habits.
The bottom line
A $10,000 long-term CD undoubtedly requires commitment from savers. But it can be well worth the reward. With a return that can surpass $1,300 upon account maturity, a built-in value that alternative accounts don’t have and protection against both market swings and the temptation to overspend, a $10,000 long-term CD offers multiple benefits for savers now. Just make sure that the amount deposited and the term chosen closely align with your long-term financial goals to avoid those early withdrawal penalties. For some savers, a different deposit or term length may be more advantageous.
Learn more about your current CD options here.
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Breaking down what Luigi Mangione wrote that may be used in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case
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