(The Hill) — The FBI is investigating a hunting platform discovered within sight of Air Force One on Friday.
FBI Director Kash Patel told The Hill’s sister company Nexstars NewsNation that before President Donald Trump arrived at Palm Beach International Airport, the Secret Service “observed what appeared to be a tall hunting platform within sight of Air Force One’s landing strip.”
“There were no individuals at the scene. The FBI has since taken control of the investigation, sending personnel and deploying cell phone analysis capabilities to collect all evidence from the scene,” Patel added.
Asked for comment, Secret Service Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi 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 arrival in Palm Beach, including the use of technology and comprehensive physical cleaning, our team identified items of interest in the vicinity of Palm Beach International Airport,” Guglielmi added. “No movement was affected and no one was at the scene or involved.”
Photos taken by the Secret Service and provided to The Hill show a stand supported by green ropes placed atop a tree.
Provided courtesy of the U.S. Secret Intelligence Service
The president departed from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, at approximately 4:45 p.m. EDT on Friday and arrived at Palm Beach International Airport at approximately 6:25 p.m. The president was scheduled to spend the weekend at his club, Mar-a-Lago, and return to Washington, D.C., on Sunday afternoon.
Last month, a man was charged with pointing a laser beam at him while aboard the presidential helicopter, Marine One.
The next day, a Florida jury also convicted a man of plotting to assassinate the president while he was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach last September. The man, 59-year-old Ryan Routh, is facing life in prison.
