The new acting head of the U.S. Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, discussed significant security failures that allowed the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a tense congressional hearing on Tuesday. Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate provided insights into the investigation, revealing critical details about the shooting, the would-be assassin, and the lapses in security.
Rowe’s Emotional Response and Security Failures
During the extended Senate hearing, Rowe expressed the emotional toll that the security failures leading up to the Butler shooting had taken on him and his team. “My people are hurting right now,” Rowe said. He highlighted one major failure: the inability to deploy a “counter unmanned aerial system” due to cellular connectivity issues. This system might have detected the drone used by the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, before the rally. Rowe admitted that the oversight was deeply troubling and suggested that detecting the drone could have prevented the attack.
Plans for Improvement
Rowe outlined the steps the Secret Service is taking to address the identified security gaps. Although specific details were limited due to the sensitive nature of their work, Rowe emphasized that improvements were already underway. He pledged not to wait for ongoing investigations to conclude before implementing changes. Planned reforms include enhancing internal and local police communications and improving protocols for handling drone threats. Rowe criticized the reliance on text messaging during the Butler rally, which he said contributed to confusion about suspicious activity. Moving forward, he emphasized the need for radio communication to ensure comprehensive situational awareness.
Operational Changes
In addition to communication reforms, Rowe announced that rangefinders would be banned at future events to prevent similar security lapses. These devices, which measure distances, were among the concerns raised about the rally’s security.
Ongoing Mystery of the Rifle’s Presence
A significant unanswered question from the Butler shooting is how Crooks managed to get a rifle onto the roof of the American Glass Research building, where he had a clear shot at Trump. Neither Rowe nor Abbate could provide a definitive answer. Abbate noted that there was no conclusive evidence on how the rifle was transported but suggested it might have been in a backpack. The rifle would have been visible if assembled, but it is theorized that Crooks may have disassembled and reassembled the rifle on the roof.
The testimony revealed both the immediate actions being taken to address security failures and ongoing challenges. As the Secret Service implements new protocols and investigates unresolved aspects of the case, the aim is to prevent future incidents and improve overall security measures.
