Top Points:
Evasive Responses from Acting Secret Service Director: During a Senate hearing, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe repeatedly refused to name who denied security detail requests for former President Donald Trump, citing a vague "process" instead of identifying a specific decision-maker.
Political Bias Allegations: Sen. Ted Cruz accused the Biden administration of political bias, suggesting that the same person who denied Trump’s security requests also denied additional security for Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raising concerns about partisan influence within the Secret Service.
Commitment to Transparency: Under pressure from Sen. Cruz, Rowe committed to providing all written requests and responses related to Trump's security detail, amid GOP suspicions that political motivations may have compromised security arrangements for high-profile figures.
Full Report:
During a tense Senate hearing on Tuesday, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe faced tough questions from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) about who denied former President Donald Trump’s security detail requests over the past two years. Despite repeated inquiries, Rowe refused to name the decision-maker, citing a vague "process" instead.
Sen. Cruz referenced a July 20, 2024, Washington Post report alleging that "top officials of the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied requests for additional resources and personnel" sought by Trump's detail. When pressed by Cruz to identify who made these decisions, Rowe's responses were evasive.
“There are times when assets were unavailable and not able to be filled, and those gaps were staffed with state and local law enforcement tactical assets,” Rowe stated. When asked for a specific name, Rowe deflected, describing it as a "process" involving multiple steps and offices.
Cruz interrupted, seeking clarity, “OK, so there’s a bureaucracy. Is there a decision maker?” Rowe responded, “It’s not a bureaucracy, senator. It’s a process.”
Growing frustrated, Cruz demanded a straightforward answer, “Give me the person that’s the decision maker. Is there one?” Rowe maintained, “Senator, it’s a conversation. It’s not just an absolute yay or nay.”
The questioning took another turn when Cruz asked if the same person who denied Trump’s security requests also denied additional security for Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Judicial Watch had identified Michael Plati, the assistant director of the Office of Protective Operations, as the person responsible for denying Kennedy's request.
“I have a simple question, yes or no,” Cruz pressed. “Did the same person deny the Trump request that also denied the RFK request? That’s a yes or no question.” Rowe refused to provide a direct answer.
Cruz accused the Secret Service leadership of making politically motivated decisions, claiming that the Biden administration's partisan politics influenced the denials of security requests for both Trump and Kennedy.
“I think the Biden administration has been suffused with partisan politics, that the same person who denied the request for additional security to President Trump also repeatedly denied the request for security to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Cruz charged.
In response to Cruz’s demand for all written requests and responses related to Trump's security detail, Rowe committed to providing the requested information.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) also grilled Rowe on who was responsible for denying Trump's security requests. Rowe continued to describe it as a "conversation" involving various offices, without naming a specific individual.
Marshall pressed for a title or a clear decision-maker, asking, “Is there a title for this position?” Rowe explained that decisions are made in what they "affectionately call the war room," a staffing and assignments office.
The refusal to identify a specific decision-maker has fueled suspicions among GOP senators that political bias within the Secret Service may have compromised the security arrangements for prominent figures like Trump and Kennedy.
Original Story by Kristina Wong, Breitbart
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