Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe held a press conference on Friday to address the assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in July. Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, expressed concerns about the incident, with Lee stating that he believes there is more to the story than what was revealed during the press conference.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin also raised suspicions of a cover-up, emphasizing the need for a detailed investigation to uncover the truth behind the security failure. A poll indicated that only three in 10 Americans are confident in the Secret Service's ability to protect presidential candidates following the assassination attempt on Trump.
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida appreciated Rowe's decision to update the public through the press conference, acknowledging the failure in protecting President Trump at the rally. He urged for continued transparency to maintain trust with the American people.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee highlighted the importance of accountability within the Secret Service, emphasizing the need to address concerns raised by whistleblowers. Sen. Josh Hawley of Mississippi criticized the Secret Service for its lack of knowledge about the events leading up to the shooting.
During the press conference, Rowe took full responsibility for the security failure that resulted in the shooting at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He expressed regret for the tragic events and pledged to cooperate with congressional oversight investigations and an independent review ordered by President Biden.
Rowe assured that individuals found in violation of Secret Service policies would be held accountable through a thorough disciplinary process. The agency is conducting its own internal review to prevent similar failures in the future.
