from Your News:
A whistleblower alleges that Secret Service officials instructed agents not to request additional security resources for Donald Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania rally, contradicting Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr.’s testimony.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
In a shocking new development, a whistleblower has come forward with allegations that contradict the testimony of Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. regarding security preparations for former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The whistleblower claims that Secret Service headquarters instructed agents not to request additional manpower resources for the July 13th event and warned that any such requests would be denied.
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🚨🚨 NEW – Whistleblower says Secret Service HQ told agents working the Butler PA event NOT to request additional manpower resources for the rally & warned any such requests would be denied. Contradicts Director Rowe testimony, who said no resources were ever denied pic.twitter.com/85sHTAI82u
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 23, 2024
These allegations directly challenge Rowe’s testimony before the Senate, in which he stated that no security assets were denied for the Butler event. The whistleblower’s claims suggest that while no formal requests for additional resources were made, this was because agents were explicitly told not to include them in the manpower request.
The allegations have sparked a response from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who released a letter to Rowe on Friday demanding immediate clarification on the apparent contradiction. In his letter, Hawley expressed deep concern over the whistleblower’s account, which suggests that the lack of additional security resources was a deliberate decision by top Secret Service officials, rather than an oversight.
The whistleblower alleges that the lead advance agent for Trump’s visit typically submits a “manpower request” to the local field office, which is then approved by the U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Protective Operations – Manpower (OPO – Manpower). However, officials within this office allegedly informed the Pittsburgh field office that the Butler rally would not receive additional resources because Trump is a former president, not the incumbent.
Crucially, the whistleblower claims that critical security assets, including counter-sniper teams and Counter Surveillance Division (CSD) personnel, were initially excluded from the manpower request due to these directives. Although counter-snipers were eventually approved, they were given insufficient time to conduct a proper site assessment, according to the whistleblower. The whistleblower further alleges that CSD personnel, who could have potentially neutralized a gunman spotted with a rangefinder in the parking lot, were not present at the event because they were not requested.
These revelations come despite Rowe’s July 30 testimony to the Senate, where he assured lawmakers that all requested assets for the Butler event were approved. He also maintained that he had been transparent with Congress. However, the whistleblower’s account suggests that critical details were withheld, leading to further scrutiny of Rowe’s leadership and the agency’s decision-making process.
In his letter, Sen. Hawley posed several pointed questions to Rowe, including inquiries about who within OPO-Manpower issued the directive to deny additional resources, whether Rowe had personal knowledge of these actions when he testified, and a request for a copy of the manpower request submitted for the Butler trip.
The whistleblower’s allegations have reignited concerns about the adequacy of security measures for former President Trump and have raised questions about the internal operations of the Secret Service. As the situation unfolds, pressure is mounting on Rowe and the agency to provide clear answers and address the whistleblower’s claims.
