Senator Josh Hawley appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” to reveal shocking claims from whistleblowers about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump. During a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump, injuring him and killing an attendee before being taken down by Secret Service agents. Hawley criticized the lead site agent, calling her inexperienced and incompetent, and alleged she didn’t follow standard security protocols. He revealed that many agents at the rally were not from the Secret Service but from Homeland Security, and expressed concern over the agency’s handling of the incident, urging immediate action to prevent future threats.
Hawley spoke with host Jesse Watters, revealing information from whistleblowers about the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agent in charge at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
During the rally, a gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at Trump from a rooftop. The bullet grazed Trump’s ear and killed one person in the crowd. Crooks, a 20-year-old, also injured two others before Secret Service agents killed him.
This incident has made both Republicans and Democrats question the Secret Service’s effectiveness. On the show, Hawley claimed the agent in charge was known to be inexperienced and “incompetent.”
Key Points from Hawley’s Interview:
- Incompetent Agent: Hawley said the lead agent was known to the Trump campaign for being bad at their job. According to whistleblowers, she didn’t follow standard security measures that day.
- Lax Security: She failed to check IDs and did not use Secret Service agents for security. Instead, most of the security team were Homeland Security agents.
- Internal Discontent: Some Secret Service agents are unhappy with how the agency handled the shooting. Hawley said they’re speaking out because they believe the leadership is failing to address serious issues.
Hawley expressed concern that such an incident could happen again if the Secret Service doesn’t improve its procedures. He emphasized the need to get all the facts to prevent future occurrences.
After his TV appearance, Hawley posted on social media about a letter he sent to Secret Service acting director Ronald L. Rowe. In the letter, he demanded an explanation for why the inexperienced agent was assigned to the rally and why security protocols were ignored. Hawley also urged Rowe to immediately suspend the agent involved while an investigation takes place.
Hawley Letter
New whistleblower allegations to my office directly question decisions made by Secret Service’s lead site agent principally responsible for securing the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. These allegations suggest that the lead site agent failed to implement appropriate security protocols. This is especially alarming because, during your testimony on July 30, you stated that this agent was “still operational… They’re still doing protective visits ” Your refusal to hold this individual accountable is increasingly inexplicable.
One whistleblower with direct knowledge of the event alleges to my office that this lead site agent was well-known in campaign circles as lacking competence and experience in the role. This specific allegation follows similar public reports that this agent was “new” to the local field office and had “relatively little experience.”! The whistleblower further alleges that this individual was, as part of securing the site, specifically responsible for line-of-sight concerns.
A separate whistleblower has disclosed to my office that the lead site agent personally made decisions that likely compromised the overall security of the event. First, campaign materials such as flags were permitted to be placed around the stage and catwalk used by the former president, despite the fact that these items were typically prohibited because of how they affected the line-of-sight of those agents responsible for identifying threats.
Second, the Secret Service did not check IDs when issuing credentials that authorize access to restricted areas of the site, contrary to typical practice. Third, the whistleblower alleges that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents at the July 13 event told campaign officials that they had never staffed a rally before and did not know proper procedure.
These staffing decisions such as what personnel to deploy and where were the responsibility of this lead agent, according to the whistleblower.
These allegations raise serious questions about the lead site agent’s conduct an individual you have so far refused to hold accountable. On July 30, you said that you will not “put your thumb on the scale,” but by continuing to assign this agent to protective visits in light of serious allegations of incompetence, you are doing exactly that. You are also jeopardizing the security of protectees by allowing this individual to continue working.
I urge you to suspend the lead site agent from all Secret Service duties immediately while these claims are investigated. You must also clarify the following questions to my office as soon as possible, and no later than seven days from now:
- Who specifically made the decision to assign this lead site agent to the July 13 rally? On what basis was this decision made?
- Were obstructions on the stage and catwalk permitted to be used without evaluating the impact on the line-of-sight for agents responsible for the president’s protection?
- Why were credential pins given out without asking for identification?
- How specifically do you plan to hold the lead site agent accountable? Please provide my office this individual’s personnel file and all responsive records related to the July 13 rally.
