The Secret Service had one of the biggest failures in the agency’s history when Donald Trump got shot.
Now, they’re trying to sweep this scandal under the rug.
And a former Secret Service agent dropped a bombshell about the agency’s leadership.
Acting Secret Service director was in the hot seat before Congress
The Secret Service’s failure to protect former President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has become a full-blown scandal.
Multiple head-scratching mistakes were made by the agency that led to Trump being shot in the ear.
Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle tried to hold out but resigned under heavy bipartisan pressure.
Now, the agency is trying to avoid accountability when Ronald Rowe was appointed acting director.
He was responsible for making many of the decisions that led to Trump’s Secret Service detail in Pennsylvania being short-staffed and under-resourced.
Rowe testified during a charged Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where he tried to dodge answering tough questions.
Former Secret Service agent rips the agency’s acting director
Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli blasted Rowe for how he handled the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
“If nothing else, he certainly proved that he can read a statement that was prepared for him,” Staropoli said. “But, you know, the public, the rank and file, the entire world was watching that testimony.”
Rowe tried to battle U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) during his Senate testimony.
“And they expect the Secret Service director to answer questions directly and bluntly and pointedly,” Staropoli explained. “Not to lose their composure and certainly not to get argumentative with congressmen and senators who are approving your budget. That’s part of the problem.”
Cruz had to shout at Rowe to “stop interrupting” him because the acting director was trying to talk over him.
Staropoli said that the Secret Service needed a “housecleaning” of leadership after Trump’s near assassination.
“The director of the Secret Service did not put on anywhere near the performance that she should have two weeks ago,” Staropoli explained. “And she passed the baton to these folks to include the acting director and the bench that is sitting behind them.”
Rowe is trying to keep business as usual going at the Secret Service based on the hearing.
“These are all legacy leaders. They all have to go,” Staropoli stated. “They’re the ones that are more culpable and responsible for setting up the tone and the attitudes that led to what happened operationally three weeks ago.”
“Not only do they need to get rid of the folks that were on the ground, that were directly responsible for what happened here three weeks ago, but the leadership has to go as well,” Staropoli added.
Rowe told Hawley at the hearing that he was not in a rush to fire anyone at the Secret Service.
The Secret Service wants to try to wait out this scandal and go back to business as usual.
Real change at the agency is only going to happen if the leadership is dragged out, kicking and screaming.
