Secret Service did not search golf course perimeter because golfing wasn’t on Trump’s 'official schedule': Acting Director Ronald Rowe

Acting US Secret Service (USSS) Director Ronald Rowe Jr. admitted Monday that agents neglected to search the perimeter of former President Donald Trump’s Florida golf course before the Republican presidential candidate started playing on Sunday. The perimeter was exactly where Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old Democratic activist, is accused of hiding in his foiled attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump with a firearm on Sunday afternoon.

Routh had been camping out on the spot for about 12 hours without being noticed. Rowe said a sweep of the area was not conducted because Trump’s golf game was something Rowe referred to as an “off-the-record” plan that wasn’t on his official calendar, according to the New York Post.

“The president wasn’t even really supposed to go there. It was not on his official schedule,” Rowe told reporters as he attempted to explain why the USSS again failed to secure the perimeter of the site occupied by the former president.

“And so we put together a security plan — and that security plan worked,” he said, referencing how Routh was fortunately noticed by Secret Service agents pointing his gun through the bushes and was intercepted. After the suspect fled the scene, police arrested Routh shortly thereafter.

Rowe did not explain whether an “off-the-record” event on the former president’s itinerary means that agents cannot be expected to search the surrounding area but he praised his personnel for being alert enough to spot the danger in the bushes. Former USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after bipartisan pressure mounted for her to do so or be fired.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has already ordered a state-led investigation of the crime and believes the suspect should be charged with more than just a couple of firearms violations. DeSantis said it makes no sense for federal agencies that are prosecuting Trump to be leading the investigation into another assassination attempt, especially since there are so many unanswered questions from the first incident in Butler, PA.