Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) released a letter on Friday detailing new whistleblower allegations suggesting that Secret Service (USSS) headquarters instructed agents not to request additional resources for a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump occurred. During the July 13 rally, assailant Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to shoot Trump, injuring him in the ear, while also killing one person and critically wounding two others in the crowd.
In the letter addressed to Acting USSS Director Ron Rowe, Hawley stated, “A whistleblower with knowledge of Secret Service planning for former President Trump’s trip to Butler, Pennsylvania, alleges that officials at Secret Service headquarters discouraged agents from requesting any additional security assets in the formal manpower request—effectively denying these assets through informal means.”
Hawley also pointed out an inconsistency, writing, “You have repeatedly suggested that no security assets were denied for the Butler event. You must explain this apparent contradiction immediately,” referring to Rowe’s previous testimony before the Senate on July 30.
The letter further explained that “According to the whistleblower, the lead advance agent for a protectee trip typically submits a ‘manpower request’ to the local field office. This request usually includes the number of personnel and other security assets needed for the event and is submitted to the US Secret Service’s Office of Protective Operations.”
During his testimony, Rowe stated that “all assets requested were approved” for the Butler rally and claimed to have been “very transparent and forthcoming” with Congress. However, the whistleblower’s allegations now cast doubt on that testimony.
Following the incident, several Secret Service agents were placed on leave. Additionally, former USSS Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after a contentious congressional hearing in which she was questioned about the security lapses.