The recent testimony of acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe Jr. before the Senate Judiciary Committee has drawn sharp criticism from former agent Richard Staropoli. In an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Staropoli slammed Rowe for his “argumentative” and evasive responses regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
He argued that the American public, as well as the rank and file of the Secret Service, expects their director to answer questions directly and transparently. However, Rowe’s performance fell short of this expectation, as he relied on a prepared statement and showed a lack of composure while engaging in heated exchanges with Republican senators.
In particular, Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas called out Rowe for his failure to provide clear answers about decision-making within the agency and the disparity in the number of agents assigned to protect Trump versus President Joe Biden. Frustrated with Rowe’s evasive tactics, Cruz firmly told the acting director to “stop interrupting” him as they argued over the budget.
Staropoli also emphasized the need for a “housecleaning” within the Secret Service, starting with the removal of the current leadership. He accused them of setting a tone and attitude that led to the operational failures witnessed during the orchestrated attack on the Capitol Building three weeks ago.
Echoing Staropoli’s sentiments, Republican Senator Josh Hawley engaged in a heated exchange with Rowe, urging him to take responsibility and fire those accountable within his agency. Hawley argued that it was not enough to just remove frontline personnel, but that the leadership must also be held accountable for their role in the security lapses.
To many, the Secret Service’s ineffectiveness in protecting Trump during the assault on the Capitol has raised serious concerns about their ability to carry out their duties effectively. This is especially troubling given that the former president was still in the building at the time of the breach.
Rowe’s combative and evasive behavior during his testimony only adds to the growing distrust and dissatisfaction with the Secret Service’s leadership. As former agent Staropoli aptly put it, the director “did not put on anywhere near the performance that [he] should have.”
It is crucial that the Secret Service take swift and decisive action to address the failures that occurred during the Capitol attack. The American people deserve to have confidence in their protective agency, and the leadership must be held accountable for any shortcomings. It is time to put politics aside and focus on ensuring the safety and security of our leaders and institutions.