An explosive allegation has surfaced against Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr., claiming his decisions jeopardized former President Donald Trump’s safety.
According to Fox News, a whistleblower asserts that Ronald Rowe Jr.'s reductions in the Counter Surveillance Division compromised security at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, nearly enabling an assassination.
The whistleblower conveyed these concerns to Senator Josh Hawley, pointing out the reduced capability of the Secret Service's Counter Surveillance Division to effectively assess threats during the July 13, 2024, gathering in Butler, PA.
Whistleblower Sheds Light on Secret Service Cutbacks
Reportedly, Ronald Rowe Jr. ordered a cutback of up to twenty percent in manpower for the division tasked with evaluating and mitigating external threats at such events. This crucial detail was included in Senator Josh Hawley's correspondence with the acting director.
Another point of concern was the alleged culture within the Secret Service of retaliating against those who voiced security worries. This raises serious questions about the internal environment of an agency critical to national safety.
Senator Hawley's communications further reveal that the early warning signs at the rally could have prevented the near-tragic incident, had the team been at full capacity. "The whistleblower claims that if personnel from CSD had been present at the rally, the gunman would have been handcuffed in the parking lot after being spotted with a rangefinder," asserted Senator Hawley.
Details From the Attempted Assassination Day
During the rally on July 13, it took Secret Service officers approximately 90 minutes from spotting a suspicious individual to the identification of the assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, by a sniper just moments before he initiated his attack.
This gap was crucial, as ideally, the Counter Surveillance Division would address such threats immediately upon detection, enhancing overall security at the venue.
This follows an earlier incident cited by the whistleblower from an event in August 2023, where the Secret Service reportedly relied on apparently inadequate local law enforcement for security measures, another decision that drew scrutiny internally.
Reactions and Responses to Allegations
Cultural issues and procedural failures within the Secret Service were brought to light, revealing a troubling scenario where red flags were allegedly overlooked. The agency responded through spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. "We respect the Senator and the role of oversight and will respond to the request through official channels," stated Guglielmi, highlighting a commitment to adhere to formal inquiry processes.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, many within the Secret Service remain committed to their duty of protecting high-profile political figures. As guardians of public safety, their role and the trust placed in them are of the utmost importance. Senate testimony by Rowe acknowledged a prior security lapse, particularly regarding the area coverage in Butler. "You acknowledged in your Senate testimony that the American Glass Research complex should have been included in the security perimeter for the Butler event," mentioned Senator Hawley, emphasizing a specific oversight in the preparation.
The strategic decisions made by Secret Service leadership, particularly around manpower and resource allocation, underline the significance of the whistleblower’s revelations.
Conclusion
The series of events and decisions leading up to the July 13 rally paints a troubling picture of the Secret Service’s current challenges. With allegations of cutbacks in crucial security divisions and a cultural hesitancy toward addressing internal criticisms, the security of significant political figures could be compromised. These revelations, brought forth by a concerned whistleblower and communicated by Senator Hawley, suggest a need for stringent reevaluation of Secret Service protocols and leadership decisions. Ensuring the safety of former and current national leaders must remain a top priority without compromise.
When were the cutbacks put into place? I think this is just another coverup for the real culprits behind the attempted assassination. The Democrats are so afraid of Trump, they will go to any extreme to remove him. Why? Because he wants what's good for America? Are they really that money and power-hungry? What happened to our Democrats?