Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Texas Republican Congressman Pat Fallon got into a screaming match Thursday at a House panel investigating the assassination attempt on the president-elect. Donald Trump.
Fallon yelled about Rowe going to the 9/11 memorial. He accused Rowe of putting the President’s Secret Service detail out of position so they could sit behind him at the 9/11 memorial service.
“Congressman, what you don’t see is the (lack of) detail that’s outside of the picture’s view. And that’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. I was there walking 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.
Ronald L. Rowe Jr. Acting Secret Service Director Pat Fallon, R-Texas, responds to questions from the House Task Force on Secret Service security failures surrounding the attempted assassination of President-elect Trump on December 5. , 2024, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
“I was there to show my respect for my comrades who died on 9/11,” Rowe shouted, pointing to Fallon. “Don’t call it 9/11 for political purposes,” Rowe shouted.
“Oh, I’m not,” Fallon replied.
Rep. Pat Fallon Ronald L. Rowe Jr. The acting director of the Secret Service is questioned by the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump about the Secret Service’s security lapses, Dec. 5, 2024, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
“You’re a gentleman,” Rowe shouted. “And you’re out of line!”
“I’m an elected member of Congress, and I’m asking you a serious question,” Fallon said.
“I’m a public servant who has served,” Rowe shouted.
Fallon accused the acting director of risking the vice president’s life to audition for the job.
Earlier, Rowe told the House panel investigating the assassination attempt that the threat environment has increased, and the Secret Service has already made changes to prevent a repeat assassination attempt.
“We are operating in a heightened threat environment with expanding protection requirements, which requires changes in the levels of protection, readiness and persistence of the Secret Service,” Rowe told Congress. “A paradigm shift focused on increasing protection, prioritizing training, empowering our workforce and increasing accountability.”
