Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is demanding answers after whistleblowers revealed that the "lead site agent" at the rally where former President Donald Trump was shot was "inexperienced," Breitbart reported. Hawley sent a letter Monday to Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe.
On July 13, a would-be assassin fired several shots at the former president at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally. Hawley believes Rowe should answer whistleblower accusations that could point to how this could have happened.
"Whistleblowers tell me the lead site agent in charge of the Butler rally was known to be inexperienced, ineffective, and not up to the job - and on the day failed to implement basic security protocols - yet this person is STILL on active duty. Why?" Hawley captioned a copy of his letter in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday.
🚨🚨 NEW - Whistleblowers tell me the lead site agent in charge of the Butler rally was known to be inexperienced, ineffective and not up to the job - and on the day failed to implement basic security protocols - yet this person is STILL on active duty. Why? 👇 pic.twitter.com/EhfUSCvnJ0
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 6, 2024
"New whistleblower allegations to my office directly question decisions made by Secret Service’s lead site agent principally responsible for securing the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. These allegations suggest that the lead site agent failed to implement appropriate security protocols," Hawley charged in the letter.
"This is especially alarming because, during your testimony on July 30, you stated that this agent was ‘still operational…They’re still doing protective visits," the Missouri Republican added.
If this is true, it would mean anyone under this team's protection could be in danger. "One whistleblower with direct knowledge of the event alleges to my office that this lead site agent was well-known in campaign circles as lacking competence and experience in the role," Hawley added.
"This specific allegation follows similar public reports that this agent was 'new' to the local field office and had 'relatively little experience. The whistleblower alleges that this individual was, as part of securing the site, specifically responsible for line-of-sight concerns."
Rowe was not in command at the time of the incident, but the problem is ongoing as this agent is still on the job. "I urge you to suspend the lead site agent from all Secret Service duties immediately while these claims are investigated," Hawley concluded in his letter.
Hawley outlined the specific failures that fall squarely at the feet of the lead site agent. Another whistleblower charged that the "lead site agent personally made decisions that likely compromised the overall security of the event," Hawley wrote.
"First, campaign material such as flags were permitted to be placed around the stage and catwalk used by the former president, despite the fact that these items were typically prohibited because of how they affected the line-of-sight of those agents responsible for identifying threats," Hawley said. The Secret Service also didn't properly screen personnel at the rally.
Anyone in "restricted areas of the site" is supposed to have their identification checked before credentials are issued, which did not happen. Shockingly, Homeland Security Investigations agents employed to protect Trump that day "told campaign officials that they had never staffed a rally."
Hawley is right to demand this person resign or at least be removed from protecting Trump and other dignitaries. Unfortunately, this is just one of many aspects of this situation that point to major failures that day.
The attempted assassination of the GOP candidate is the most significant failure in Secret Service history. This should have never happened to begin with, and they certainly need to make sure it won't happen again.
