Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has disclosed alarming allegations from a whistleblower regarding security lapses by the Secret Service before the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. Hawley shared these claims in a letter to Secret Service acting Director Ronald Rowe, which he posted on X.
Hawley wrote, “Since your testimony before the Senate of July 30, new and disturbing information has come to light about Secret Service planning for the Butler, Pennsylvania Trump campaign event—and your own involvement.”
According to the whistleblower, Rowe cut manpower in the Secret Service Counter Surveillance Division (CSD) by 20%, a decision not revealed during his Senate testimony.
The whistleblower asserted that with a fully staffed CSD, the shooter could have been apprehended long before posing a threat to Trump.
The whistleblower also alleged that some officers had previously warned about security lapses at events leading up to the shooting. Instead of heeding these warnings, officials reportedly retaliated against the officers who raised them.
In response to these allegations, Hawley requested that Rowe provide records of policy changes during his tenure, especially those concerning the CSD, and records of officers under disciplinary action within the Secret Service.
These revelations add to the mounting criticisms of the Secret Service’s security measures for Trump, which have already led to the resignation of the Secret Service director.
The whistleblower’s allegations suggest significant failures in threat assessment and security protocols that could have prevented the assassination attempt. As the investigation progresses, there will likely be a heightened focus on the operational decisions and leadership practices of the Secret Service.
Hawley’s insistence on transparency and accountability emphasizes the importance of addressing these security lapses to ensure the safety of high-profile individuals and restore public confidence in the agency.
