Secret Service accused of scapegoating local law enforcement in Trump rally shooting
Senators are now accusing the Secret Service of trying to shift blame onto local law enforcement for the shooting at a Trump rally after its acting director, Ronald Rowe, testified about why the gunman wasn’t spotted in advance in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During his Capitol Hill testimony, Rowe appeared to blame local police for not seeing the shooter on the rooftop from which he fired. However, the district attorney of Butler County disputed Rowe’s account, stating that local snipers were not responsible for monitoring that specific rooftop.
Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Josh Hawley expressed skepticism about Rowe’s testimony, with Johnson stating, “I think they’re looking for a scapegoat,” and Hawley adding, “This has a lot of CYA feel to it.”
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger clarified that local snipers were not assigned to monitor the rooftop where the shooter fired from, contradicting Rowe’s claims.
The conflicting accounts have raised concerns among senators, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal calling the Secret Service’s actions “unfair and unwise” and Sen. Gary Peters reserving judgment until all parties involved are interviewed.
The testimony of Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe is now under scrutiny, with senators and local officials in Pennsylvania questioning the agency’s handling of the situation.
