Explosive 9/11 exchange takes place at Secret Service hearing
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Texas Republican Rep. Pat Fallon clashed Thursday during a House panel investigating the assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump.
Fallon yelled about Rowe’s presence at the 9/11 memorial. He accused Rowe of moving the president’s Secret Service so he could sit behind him at the 9/11 commemoration ceremony.
“Congressman, what you don’t see is the [lack] details out of view of the image. And it’s the day we remember the more than 3,000 people who died on 9/11,” Rowe said Thursday. “I actually responded to Ground Zero. There I was, digging through the ashes of the World Trade Center. I was there at Fresh Kills.”
Fallon yelled at Rowe, asking if he was the special agent in charge.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald L. Rowe Jr. answers questions from Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, during a House task force hearing on Secret Service security failures regarding attempts assassination of President-elect Trump on December 5. , 2024, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
“I was there to show respect to the members who died on 9/11,” Rowe shouted, pointing at Fallon. “Don’t invoke 9/11 for political purposes,” Rowe shouted.
“Oh, I’m not,” Fallon replied.
Rep. Pat Fallon questions Acting Secret Service Director Ronald L. Rowe Jr. during a House Task Force hearing on the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump about the service’s security failures secrets, December 5, 2024, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
“You are, sir,” Rowe shouted back. “And you’re out of line!”
“I am an elected member of Congress and I am asking you a serious question,” Fallon said.
“I’m a public servant who served,” Rowe responded.
Fallon accused the acting director of putting the vice president’s life in danger by auditioning for the job.
Earlier, Rowe told the House committee investigating the assassination attempt that there is a heightened threat environment and that the Secret Service has already made changes to ensure the assassination attempt does not happen again.
“We operate in a heightened threat environment with increasing protection requirements, which requires a change in the Secret Service’s levels of protection, preparedness and sustainability,” Rowe told Congress. “A paradigm shift focuses on improving protection, prioritizing training, strengthening our workforce and increasing accountability.”
This is a developing story. Please check again for updates.
