During a House hearing on Thursday, tensions erupted between Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) over the agency’s handling of two assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump.
Fallon criticized the Secret Service for security lapses, highlighting an incident in which the President and Vice President were possibly left unguarded during a 9/11 memorial event. Rowe defended his actions, emphasizing his service on 9/11 and denying that his presence compromised security.
Fallon: Who is usually at an event like this closest to the President of the United States, security-wise?Rowe: The SAC of the detail, special agent in charge of the detail.Fallon: Were you the special agent in charge of the detail that day?Rowe: Actually, let me address this. … So actually, Congressman, what you’re not seeing is the sack of the detail off, out of the picture view. And that is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that have died on 9/11. I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes of the World Trade Center. …Fallon: I’m not asking you that. I’m asking you, were you the special agent in charge?
They then got into a screaming match.
The House task force is expected to release a report with findings and recommendations by December 13. This report will provide further insights into the agency’s preparedness and response to threats against high-profile individuals.
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