PITTSBURGH – On Tuesday, Republican Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn questioned the acting director of the Secret Service regarding the apparent erosion of public trust in the agency’s commitment to protect, following an assassination attempt on former President Trump during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
Blackburn expressed, “This agency needs a transformation, and if it’s not going to happen now, then when? Is it going to take another assassination in the next 30 days?” During a Senate hearing that included testimonies from Acting U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, she quoted an email allegedly sent by a Secret Service counter sniper.
The email, which was shared by reporter Susan Crabtree from Real Clear Politics, included the sentiment that the agency’s motto had become “CYA,” shorthand for “cover your a–.”
Continuing her line of questioning, Blackburn stated: “The trust from the public in the agency’s ability to protect is waning, and I would like to know how you feel about the fact that your employees seem more concerned about covering their backs than they are about protecting a former president.”
TRUMP SHOOTING: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TIMELINE
Senator Blackburn questioned the Secret Service about the public’s confidence in the agency post the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
According to Crabtree, the sniper sent the email to the entire Uniform Division as the details of the assassination attempt began to emerge.
Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley revealed on Monday that text messages from Butler County, Pennsylvania, indicated that snipers spotted shooter Thomas Crooks about 90 minutes before he discharged his weapon at former President Trump, resulting in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and injuries to 74-year-old James Copenhaver and 57-year-old David Dutch.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: SENATE HEARING ON SECRET SERVICE AND FBI OFFICIALS
Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testified before the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Government Affairs committees in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 30, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Rowe, who assumed the directorship after Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation last week, expressed to Blackburn that he felt “hurt” by the email’s contents.
“It pains me because my team is experiencing difficulties right now,” Rowe remarked to Blackburn. “We require their support.”
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: TEXTS SHOW THE AWARENESS OF OFFICERS ABOUT THOMAS CROOKS 90 MINUTES BEFORE THE SHOOTING
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., referenced an email from a Secret Service counter sniper that was reportedly directed to the entire Uniform Division, revealing his disappointment with the agency’s handling of the Trump rally on July 13 and the growing public distrust. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The acting director also commented that “emotions are high” within the agency currently, expressing his desire to connect further with the agent who penned the email, who identified himself as a U.S. Marine and a two-decade veteran of the USSS. Rowe asserted his dedication to reviewing protocols and acting as a “change agent.”
When contacted for comments, the Secret Service directed Fox News Digital to Rowe’s testimony.
On Monday, Rowe faced tough questions from Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, who challenged how it was possible for Trump to take the stage 17 minutes after reports of a suspicious individual.
“We received no information about a weapon on the roof reaching our personnel,” Rowe answered.
“How can this happen?” asked Lee.
Rowe explained, “That information was circulating within local law enforcement channels but never reached Secret Service awareness. They were confronted with a very serious situation and communicated that over the radio, from what I understand. But it was never conveyed to us.”
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: FBI STATES GUNMAN CLIMBED HVAC, TRAVERSED ROOFTOPS TO SHOOTING LOCATION
The Butler Farm Show, the venue of a rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, is pictured on July 15, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was attacked on July 13 during an assassination attempt while addressing the crowd at the rally. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
As per the USSS letter, following a conference call with reporters on Monday morning, the FBI reported that Crooks gained access to the roof of a building close to Trump’s rally in Butler by utilizing HVAC equipment and pipes.
After accessing the rooftops, Crooks settled into a shooting position atop an American Glass Research (AGR) building, approximately 150 yards from where former President Trump spoke during the rally.
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On the rally day, Crooks parked his vehicle and operated a drone between around 3:50 p.m. and 4 p.m., approximately 200 yards from Trump’s speaking location on July 13. FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed during a congressional hearing on July 17 that Crooks had been present at the rally site for about 70 minutes prior to the assassination attempt.
It remains uncertain how Crooks managed to elude security despite being spotted by law enforcement approximately 90 minutes prior to the shooting; the FBI stated that over 300 agents and personnel are working “around the clock” to assemble details and create a clearer timeline of Crooks’ activities.
