Lawmakers accuse the acting Secret Service director of a 9/11 publicity stunt and an “audition” to keep his job in a tense exchange

Washington
CNN
—

There was an uproar during a congressional hearing Thursday on the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump when a congressman accused acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe of attending a 9/11 commemoration event as part of a publicity stunt.

The tense exchange came during the latest meeting of the House Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, when Rep. Pat Fallon showed a picture of Rowe standing behind President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during a 9/11 memorial event stood in New York City in September. Trump and Vice President-elect Senator JD Vance also attended the ceremony.

The congressman, a Texas Republican, accused Rowe of positioning himself in the area where the special agent in charge of Biden’s command was so he could be seen behind the president. Rowe is not expected to continue in his role once Trump takes office, and podcaster Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who sharply criticized the agency’s leadership as security failures surrounding the alleged Trump assassination attempts became clear, as well as Sean Curran Among those being considered for the post are , the current head of Trump’s command.

Rowe took exception to Fallon’s accusation and defended himself quickly and forcefully.

“Congressman, what you don’t see is the SAC of the details outside the view of the picture,” Rowe said, using the acronym for “Special Agent in Charge.”

“And this is the day we remember the more than 3,000 people who died on 9/11,” Rowe added. “I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there, walking through the ashes of the World Trade Center. I was there at Fresh Kills,” Rowe added, referring to a landfill on Staten Island where debris from the attack was disposed of.

Fallon tried to interrupt Rowe: “I’m not asking you that.”

“I was there, Congressman!” Rowe shouted while pointing at Fallon.

The shouting match came during the final hearing of the congressional task force investigating two assassination attempts on Trump: the July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured Trump and killed one of his supporters, and the alleged Sept. 15 assassination attempt Trump in one of his golf clubs.

Rowe – the only witness in Thursday’s hearing, who was promoted from deputy director to interim head of the agency after the first Trump assassination attempt – acknowledged security failings that day and outlined a series of changes at the agency.

Rowe has previously admitted that “complacency” at the agency “resulted in a breach of protocol” and that employees found to behave complacently “will be held accountable.”

He also acknowledged that the agency could face future stresses, including the 2028 presidential election cycle.

The exchange between Rowe and Fallon continued to develop as the two men yelled at each other. Rowe accused the congressman of trying to “bully” him and “incite 9/11 for political reasons,” while the congressman suggested that Rowe “wanted that.” visible because you auditioned for this job.”

Fallon told Rowe, “You endangered the lives of President Biden and Vice President Harris by removing these agents from position.”

When the committee chairman banged the gavel, Rowe shot back: “You’re out of line.”