Five Key Takeaways from the Secret Service Hearing on Trump's Assassination Attempt
In a heated congressional hearing, the new acting head of the US Secret Service revealed he has “lost sleep” over the security lapses that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Ronald Rowe, alongside FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, discussed the ongoing investigation and outlined the lessons learned from the incident. Here’s what we discovered.
1. Secret Service Chief Haunted by Security Failures
During the tense Senate hearing, Ronald Rowe admitted that the security failings at the Butler rally have had a profound emotional impact on him and his team. “My people are hurting right now,” Rowe said, highlighting the raw emotions within the Secret Service. One critical failure was the inability to deploy a counter-drone system due to cellular connectivity issues, which could have detected the gunman’s drone conducting early surveillance. “I have no explanation… I feel as though we could have found him, could have maybe stopped him,” Rowe lamented.
2. Overhauling Secret Service Operations
Rowe emphasized that the Secret Service is already addressing identified security gaps and won’t wait for the investigations to conclude before implementing changes. He outlined plans to improve communication with local police and within the agency. During the Butler rally, much of the communication occurred via text messages, which contributed to confusion. Rowe stressed the importance of using radio channels to ensure situational awareness. Additionally, the Secret Service plans to ban rangefinders at future events to prevent similar incidents.
3. Mystery of the Rifle on the Roof
A major unanswered question is how the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get a rifle onto the rooftop of the American Glass Research building. Both Rowe and Abbate admitted they lack definitive evidence. While Crooks was seen retrieving a backpack from his car, the rifle would have been visible if it were fully assembled inside the bag. Investigators theorize he may have broken down the rifle and reassembled it on the roof shortly before firing.
4. Troubling Social Media Activity
Despite extensive interviews and digital evidence analysis, investigators have not determined Crooks’ motive. Abbate revealed that a social media account, potentially linked to Crooks, contains over 700 posts dating back to 2019-2020. These posts exhibit antisemitic and anti-immigration sentiments and advocate political violence. While the account’s attribution to Crooks is still under investigation, the content is described as extreme, providing a possible insight into his mindset.
5. Potential Disciplinary Actions
Lawmakers made it clear that they expect disciplinary actions within the Secret Service. Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized the importance of accountability, suggesting firings to ensure future compliance. Rowe promised accountability, stating that any policy violations would result in appropriate penalties, including termination.
This hearing comes after Kim Cheatle’s resignation as Secret Service director following criticism of her handling of the July 13 rally. With new leadership and plans for reform, the agency aims to prevent future security lapses and restore confidence in its operations.
