Sniper shot at Trump's gun and stopped him

A police sniper may have saved lives by shooting and knocking down the rifle of Donald Trump's potential assassin, according to an investigation.

According to a report by Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins, the sniper's bullet damaged Thomas Matthew Crooks' weapon and knocked him off target after he fired his first shots in Butler, Pennsylvania. Moments later, he was killed by a Secret Service sniper.

The report comes as the Secret Service is temporarily assigning some of President Joe Biden's bodyguards to Trump, according to US media.

Trump will also be equipped with bulletproof glass so that he can hold outdoor rallies again.

The former president was unprotected at his July 13 rally in Butler when a bullet hit him nearly in the head.

Mr Higgins' report said a SWAT officer from Butler was the first to fire at Trump's killer – from a distance of 90 metres.

The congressman said the sniper “ran toward the threat and ran into a clear firing position directly into the line of fire.”

He then fired a single shot at the shooter, hitting part of his rifle, the report said.

This temporarily knocked the gunman out of his position, but “after just a few seconds” he “jumped back up” before being fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.

During the attack, the thugs killed one member of the crowd and seriously injured two others.

Since then, security measures around the former president have been tightened.

New records achieved by ABC News Internal discussions among local authorities about security measures planned for the day of the attack are detailed, with the Butler County Sheriff noting the “circus” and large crowds the rally would bring. The recordings also include text messages showing the frustration of local authorities after the shooting.

Local authorities advised the Secret Service about requesting a sniper and surveillance team as well as a rapid reaction force.

In an email to the Butler County District Attorney obtained by ABC News, Sergeant Edward Lenz of the Adams Township Police Department said they plan to deploy two snipers, a rapid response team and two mobile counter-assault teams.

The counterattack teams would “respond to and combat an attack on the presidential candidate inside the venue, whether it is a coordinated attack by multiple attackers or a single attacker,” he wrote.

He said the rapid response force would respond to any “high-risk incidents outside the venue”.

The recordings came after Secret Service agents were reassigned amid threats against Trump, 78. The move was made possible by Biden's reduced travel schedule after he dropped out of the campaign, according to a New York Times report.

The newly assigned officers were responsible for either traveling with Mr Biden or going ahead of him to set up security at an event, a source told the newspaper.

Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the Secret Service, resigned on July 23 after a hearing in the US House of Representatives on the assassination attempt.

Politicians on the House Oversight Committee criticized the lack of information in their answers to questions about security planning and how officials responded to reports of the gunman's suspicious behavior before the shooting.

The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper team after firing eight shots at Trump from a rooftop just outside the rally's security perimeter.

The FBI is currently investigating the security gap and the political leadership of the US Congress has also launched an investigation.