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testified before a joint Senate hearing that carried a much calmer atmosphere compared to a similar hearing held last week by the House on the assassination attempt of former PresidentDespite a few heated exchanges with Sens.
Sen. Mike Lee took issue with the fact that there were several minutes during which Trump could have been removed from the stage or prevented from going on. Rowe explained that the Secret Service was only aware of a suspicious person and the presence of a gun was not communicated to them, so there was not an immediate threat relayed to them that would have prevented the former president from taking the stage.
Both agencies are still investigating how Crooks was able to access the roof with an AR-15. FBI footage found that Crooks had a backpack where they believe he kept the firearm, but Abbate could not say whether the rifle had been disassembled or not. Rowe said he would submit in writing once he learned the nature of the counter-snipers leaving their post.Sens. Josh Hawley blasted Rowe for the fact that no one had been fired or relieved of duty due to the security failures and lack of coverage of the building where Crooks shot at the crowd.
“You’re asking me, Senator, to completely make a rush to judgment about somebody failing,” Rowe responded. “I acknowledge this was a failure…I will tell you that I will not rush to judgment, that people will be held accountable, and I will do so with integrity and not rush to judgment and put people unfairly persecuted —”Other senators more calmly suggested that personnel needed to be let go in response to the shooting.
Rowe said the Secret Service is committed to changing their radio communication systems so that they can be connected to both local and federal law enforcement. The task typically does not occur for one-day events, he said, as takes several days to complete due to technical issues that make it hard to connect federal systems with local frequencies.
Rowe also said that a laser range finder, which Crooks had in his possession when officials marked him as a suspicious person, would be added to the list of prohibited items moving forward. Homeland Security Committee Chairman Gary Peters asked Rowe to commit to having the agents available for interviews in a manner of days, to which the acting director agreed.
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