Senators Grill New Secret Service Chief At Trump Assassination Attempt Hearing

Top officials with the U.S. Secret Service and FBI testified before two Senate committees Tuesday about the security lapses that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

The joint hearing with Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate grew heated at several points, with senators pressing Rowe for explanations about the security failures that allowed 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks to open fire at the rally on July 13. Trump and two others were injured, and one attendee was killed. 

Senators on the Homeland Security Committee and Judiciary Committee questioned Rowe about the planning for the event and the communication breakdowns between Secret Service agents on site and local law enforcement who were helping with security. Rowe said local officers who were stationed near the roof where the gunman was perched should have seen him before he opened fire, but acknowledged the Secret Service was ultimately responsible for securing the site and was "ashamed" by the shooting.

Abbate also revealed that the FBI has discovered a social media account believed to belong to the shooter that left "extreme" comments online in 2019 and 2020, including comments that "appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes" and "espouse political violence."

Rowe took on the role of acting director of the Secret Service after the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle, who stepped down as the head of the agency after a disastrous performance before House lawmakers last week.