Donald Trump was seen with blood on his face, surrounded by Secret Service agents, as he was taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. AFP
The US Secret Service’s acting director is set to appear before a House of Representatives panel on Thursday, investigating security lapses related to two unsuccessful assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump. Acting Director Ronald Rowe will provide testimony as the task force, composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats, prepares to release its final report on the investigation.
"It is crucial that we acknowledge the severity of our failure on July 13, 2024. I bear the burden of knowing that we nearly lost a protectee and that our failure resulted in the loss of a father and husband," Rowe stated in his prepared testimony prior to the hearing. "This incident highlights the failure to meet the expectations and responsibilities of the Secret Service."
The Secret Service has come under scrutiny for its staffing levels and communication capabilities after Trump survived two assassination attempts during his presidential campaign. In July, a gunman fired eight shots at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania, wounding Trump in the ear and killing another attendee. The gunman was subsequently shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
Two months later, a man armed with a gun barricaded himself near a Trump-owned golf course in Florida, with prosecutors alleging his intent was to kill the then-Republican candidate while he was golfing. The suspect, Ryan Routh, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and is awaiting trial.
Rowe expressed his "shame" over the security lapses surrounding the Pennsylvania shooting but defended the agency’s response in the Florida incident, praising an agent who spotted the gunman before he could open fire. Rowe, who assumed the role after his predecessor resigned following the Pennsylvania shooting, has pledged to hold accountable those responsible for security lapses and stated during the campaign that Trump’s protection was on par with that of the current president, Joe Biden.
The rally shooting severely undermined confidence in the Secret Service, tarnishing its prestigious "zero fail" reputation for safeguarding presidents and high-ranking dignitaries in the United States. The Secret Service has largely avoided criticism from Trump, who has often criticized federal law enforcement and promised to overhaul the government. However, the agency’s handling of the Pennsylvania shooting drew bipartisan condemnation.
An interim report from the House task force, released in October, revealed a lack of coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement prior to the July rally.
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