The United States Secret Service is facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of a July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Acting Director Ronald Rowe has been at the center of the controversy, with lawmakers questioning his role in allegedly denying additional resources to protect Trump.
Rowe recently testified before a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, where he denied any involvement in cutting off resources for Trump’s security detail. However, a whistleblower has come forward, contradicting Rowe’s claims and alleging that he was directly involved in denying those resources.
The Secret Service initially claimed that no requests for additional resources were rejected, but later admitted that more resources were indeed denied to Trump. This revelation has sparked intense criticism, particularly given the shocking details of the assassination attempt. A new video has emerged showing the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, running on the rooftop where he perched before opening fire on Trump.
The incident has raised serious questions about the Secret Service’s communication and response protocols. Despite being detected by counter-sniper teams and local SWAT units, Crooks was able to get ahead of the Secret Service and nearly succeeded in his attempt on Trump’s life. The former president narrowly escaped a fatal headshot, with the bullet missing its mark by mere millimeters.
