Ladies and gentlemen, tensions are running high in Washington as Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe finds himself in the hot seat over the agency’s handling of the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. Lawmakers are demanding accountability, and Rowe’s defense isn’t sitting well with everyone.
Rowe faced a grilling from numerous lawmakers, particularly during an intense exchange with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Hawley was relentless, questioning why no agents had been fired despite what he called “prima facie” evidence of failure. Rowe maintained that he didn’t want to “rush to judgment” and insisted that an internal investigation must be completed before any decisions were made. He stressed the importance of neutrality and thoroughness, which didn’t sit well with Hawley.
Hawley was adamant, pointing to the fact that a former president was shot, one person was dead, and others were critically wounded. He demanded accountability, suggesting that those responsible for the failed security plan should be immediately removed from their positions. Hawley’s frustration was palpable as he accused Rowe of prioritizing protocols over human lives.
Rowe, visibly emotional, assured that he had lost sleep over the incident and promised that those responsible would be held accountable but only after a fair investigation. This didn’t pacify Hawley, who bluntly stated that he didn’t care about protocols when lives were at stake.
OK…
So… Here’s everything…. you need to know about today’s so called “hearing”
Senator Josh Hawley, rips Ronald Rowe a new one…. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
🔉on pic.twitter.com/R5ZkoneUlM
— 🅰🅼🅴🆁🅸🅲🅰 🆁🅴🅰🅻 (@AmericaReal3) July 31, 2024
The tension continued as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took his turn, pressing Rowe on whether Trump’s team had previously requested additional security and been denied. Cruz, known for his loyalty to Trump, demanded to know if specific individuals were responsible for these decisions. Rowe explained the bureaucratic process involved in such requests but refused to name names, emphasizing that decisions are made collectively rather than by a single person.
Cruz was not satisfied, accusing the Secret Service leadership of making politically motivated decisions influenced by the Biden administration. Rowe refuted this, asserting that Secret Service agents operate without political bias.
The heated exchanges highlighted the intense scrutiny the Secret Service is under following the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Butler, Pa. One person was killed, and two were wounded, raising serious questions about the agency’s preparedness and response.
Following the hearing, Hawly posted new information:
🚨🚨 NEW – Whistleblower tells me Secret Service Acting Director Rowe personally directed cuts to the USSS agents who do threat assessments for events. Whistleblower says those agents were NOT present in Butler – and some of them had warned of security problems for months pic.twitter.com/v9igQ5L7FZ
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 1, 2024
This saga is far from over, and as the investigation continues, more details will likely emerge, further fueling the debate over how the Secret Service handles security for high-profile political figures. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.