What Was Learned About Assassination Attempt in Senate Hearings?

Seventeen days ago, former President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated as he spoke at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Today, Ronald L. Rowe, the acting director of the Secret Service, testified before a joint hearing with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate also testified at the Senate committees meeting. Fred Lucas discussed six top takeaways from the Senate hearings in his article published at The Daily Signal. 

1. ‘Cannot Defend Why That Roof Was Not Better Secured.’

Rowe and other Secret Service agents visited the site of the campaign rally in Pennsylvania after the fact. He said he climbed onto the rooftop where the 20-year-old gunman fired at Trump.

“I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed,” Rowe said during his opening remarks.

“As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,” he added….

2. FBI’s Detailed Time Line

In presenting a time line to the two Senate committees, Abbate said the FBI interviewed more than 460 people and accessed the shooter’s electronic devices.

“Thus far, though absolutely nothing has been ruled out, the investigation has not identified a motive nor any co-conspirators or others with advanced knowledge,” Abbate told the committees….

At 6:11 p.m., law enforcement radioed that this suspicious person had a gun. He fired about 30 seconds, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear.

A Secret Service counter sniper shot and killed the gunman. Eight shell casings were found next to his body on the roof, Abbate said, so he likely fired eight rounds.

Commenting during the press conference afterwards, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked; “Why didn’t they remove President Trump from the stage after spectators and local law enforcement, assigned to help protect the president, had noticed that there was a guy with a rifle on a roof?”

3. Cruz: Spokesperson ‘Lied on Behalf of the Secret Service.’

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pushed for more information about why the Secret Service reportedly denied requests for more security from the Trump campaign – and whether the Secret Service lied about it….

During the GOP press conference after the hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said he thought the Secret Service still wouldn’t hold itself accountable for the security failures in Pennsylvania.

“All we’re asking the Secret Service is to give us their briefing,” Mullin said. “What did they break down? Where are the failure points? Because if you cannot admit you did something wrong, you’re destined to do it again.”

4. Durbin Pushes Gun Control

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., used the hearing to push the need for more gun control….

5. ‘No Explanation’ for Why Shooter’s Drone Worked and Secret Service’s Drone Had ‘Technical Difficulties’

Before the Trump rally, the shooter surveyed the site using a drone. Yet, the Secret Service said its drones would not work in the area.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, asked: “Can you explain why the shooter’s drone worked?”

Rowe replied: “There was no counter-UAS [unmanned aerial system] present.”

Cornyn asked: “You had a drone system but you had bandwidth problems. The bandwidth was adequate, apparently, for the shooter’s drone, but not for the Secret Service. Can you explain that?”

Rowe replied, “I have no explanation for it, sir.” …

At the press conference afterward, Cornyn said the Secret Service’s failure to answer that key question was “another one of their multiple points of failure.”

6. Ron Johnson: Lack of Transparency ‘Very Unfortunate’

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., pointed to the photos displayed by Rowe earlier in the hearing, and questioned why the Secret Service waited so long to share them.

“I appreciate these photos today,” Johnson said. “These things could have been released in days and a whole lot more information as well.” …

Johnson pushed for more transparency and asked for transcripts of related FBI interviews.

“Does the Secret Service use encrypted communications at events?” Johnson asked….

Rowe agreed, saying, “Moving forward, I’ve directed we will not start recording those.” …

Johnson, referring to Trump’s Florida home, asked: “Was there ever requested additional coverage for Mar-a-Lago?”

Rowe replied: “We have provided additional resources to Mar-a-Lago.”

Lawmakers, Johnson said, “need to find out literally second by second what happened.”