Three weeks ago, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe angrily rejected senators’ demands to immediately fire or punish agents who were responsible for security failures during an assassination attempt on former President Trump. This incident took place at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last month.
Since then, the Secret Service has placed several agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office on administrative leave, according to insider sources. Being put on administrative leave means the agents are temporarily removed from their duties, often during an investigation, but still receive pay and benefits. This action is typically taken when there’s misconduct or a health issue, but it can vary.
Interestingly, while some agents have been placed on leave, other agents who were directly involved in planning the security for the Butler rally are still on duty protecting Trump. This has sparked internal frustration, as many within the Secret Service wonder why only some agents are being disciplined, especially when blame could be shared.
At a Senate meeting on July 30, Rowe admitted he didn’t understand why the roof, where the shooter fired from, wasn’t secured better. The shooter, Thomas Crooks, shot at Trump from this rooftop during the rally. A local firefighter named Corey Comperatore, attending the rally with his family, was tragically killed. Rowe assured the senators that the Secret Service was investigating whether any employees broke rules or failed to follow protocol. If so, those responsible would face punishment, including the possibility of being fired.
However, some sources argue that top Secret Service officials in Washington, D.C., including Rowe, are also to blame. These officials reportedly declined certain security measures that were requested for the rally, despite the heightened risk from an Iranian plot targeting Trump. This comes after the killing of an Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, by the U.S. in 2020, which led to ongoing threats against Trump and his security team.
The agency’s former director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned amid public outrage over the lack of transparency regarding the Butler rally security failures. Critics in Congress and within the Secret Service itself are now demanding more accountability, comparing this incident to the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino, now a popular conservative commentator, has been vocal about the “apocalyptic security failure,” calling for a complete overhaul of the agency’s leadership. Bongino claims that many of his former colleagues are horrified by the state of the Secret Service under Rowe’s leadership.
Other agents, including one who spoke anonymously, pointed fingers directly at Rowe and other top leaders for the failures in Butler. According to them, leadership’s mismanagement of technology and resources led to the security collapse. Despite this, the top brass hasn’t faced any consequences.
An Iranian-linked suspect, Asif Merchant, was arrested by the FBI just one day before the rally in connection with a plot to carry out political assassinations in the U.S., including an attempt on Trump’s life. This was not the first time Trump’s team has faced such threats from Iran, which has been a problem since Trump ordered Soleimani’s killing.
It’s revealed that top-level Secret Service officials often reduce security to cut costs, especially during election years when the agency’s resources are stretched thin. This cost-cutting was evident at the Butler rally, where, despite a heightened threat level, only two sniper teams were deployed, even though four teams were requested. The shortage forced local law enforcement to cover vulnerable areas, such as the rooftop where the shooter ultimately positioned himself.
Why this rooftop wasn’t properly secured remains a central question in the ongoing investigation. Some whistleblowers within the Secret Service claim that a counter-surveillance unit, which could have detected the shooter’s actions early, wasn’t deployed at the rally. If this team had been there, it’s possible they could have stopped Crooks before he fired his shots.
Senator Josh Hawley also got involved, sending a letter to Rowe accusing him of directing cuts to the Counter-Surveillance Division. These cuts allegedly reduced manpower and prevented a proper evaluation of the Butler rally site, contributing to the security failure.
In response to this scandal, Rowe promised major changes within the agency. He acknowledged the need for a new approach to security and emphasized that the Secret Service must adapt to the evolving threat landscape. He also pledged to stop overworking agents and pushing them beyond their limits.
Despite the security nightmare in Butler, agents on Trump’s protective detail continue to work under intense conditions. Over the past year, these agents have faced grueling schedules and more responsibilities, often working seven days straight before getting any time off. They’ve also been taking on more of the security planning for Trump’s rallies, a task that used to be shared with local field offices. This is why it’s puzzling to many within the Secret Service that no one from Trump’s detail has been placed on administrative leave, even though they were equally responsible for the security plan in Butler.
Secret Service leadership hasn’t commented on why only some agents are being disciplined. What’s clear, however, is that the agency is facing a credibility crisis. Internal whistleblowers have accused the Secret Service of favoritism, inconsistent discipline, and a culture of fear and retaliation. The uneven handling of the Butler incident only deepens this mistrust.
Rowe has pledged to hold people accountable, but some argue his close ties to Tim Burke, head of the Pittsburgh Field Office, could complicate that effort. Burke has been linked to previous allegations of mishandling misconduct complaints within his office, including a sexual harassment case that led to an agent’s demotion. The agent eventually won his case and had his position restored, but Burke’s handling of the situation has raised questions about his judgment.
The Secret Service’s problems extend beyond the Butler incident. In a separate case, two men pretending to be Department of Homeland Security officers tricked Secret Service agents protecting President Biden and his family. These imposters provided the agents with lavish gifts, including free apartments, in a two-year scheme. The agents involved were put on leave, but it remains unclear whether they faced any further discipline.
As the investigation continues, the Secret Service finds itself at a crossroads. Will it rise to the challenge of reform, or will the agency’s longstanding problems continue to undermine its vital protective mission? Only time will tell.
