Acting Secret Service Director freaks out when accused of 'endangering lives,' using 9/11 memorial as photo op

Acting Secret Service (USSS) Director Ronald Rowe got into a shouting match with GOP Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) during a congressional hearing for the task force over the attempted assassination of Donald Trump as Fallon accused Rowe of "endangering President Biden's life" for a photo op.   

During the hearing, the GOP lawmaker displayed a photo of Rowe at Ground Zero for a 9/11 memorial service being situated close to President Joe Biden. Fallon pointed out that it appeared as though there was not a protective agent in the photo next to Biden and asked the Acting USSS Director, “Who is usually at an event like this closest to the President of the United States?”  

Usually at public events with the president, as explained by Fallon and Rowe during the exchange, the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the USSS detail is closest to the president. Fallon then insinuated that Rowe has inserted himself instead of allowing for a SAC agent to be in place next to the president. At that point, Rowe began to speak loudly, clearly irritated by the question.   

"Actually, congressman, what you’re not seeing is the SAC [Special Agent In Charge] of the detail out of the picture’s view. And that is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that have died on 9/11. I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes of the World Trade Center" Rowe said, getting increasingly louder with his words as Fallon interrupted him.  

Fallon yelled, "I'm not asking you—" where he was then interrupted, which resulted in more cross-shouting between the GOP lawmaker and USSS head.  

“I am not asking you that. I am asking, were you the special agent in charge?!” Fallon yelled in the heated exchange. Rowe then claimed that he was there to "show respect" for the fallen on 9/11, to which Fallon dismissed, yelling, "You were not!" and then accused him of wanting to be there for publicity and political purposes.  

“You know why you were there? Because you wanted to be visible, because you are auditioning for this job that you’re not going to get,” he added, with more cross-talk, and then yelled, "You endangered President Biden's life and Vice President Harris' life because you put those agents out of position. Did you have a radio with you? Did you have a vest? Did you have a weapon?" 

Rowe accused Fallon of being "out of line" in his position as a congressman during the heated exchange. “I am a public servant who has served this nation and spent time on our country’s darkest day!" he shouted. 

The hearing was then brought to order, and questions from the task force proceeded. Rowe was placed in charge of the agency after USSS failed to protect Donald Trump when he was speaking at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally on July 13 earlier this year.  

At the time, Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to climb onto a nearby roof during a rally with a rifle and was able to shoot off several rounds, hitting Trump in the ear as well as killing Corey Comperatore and critically injuring two others.

In his line of questioning, Fallon revealed that whistleblowers informed his office that the USSS team on the ground that day in Butler were not aware of a “grave” threat from nefarious nations. Additionally, Rowe admitted to waiting over a week to finally visit the site after the assassination attempt took place.