A whistleblower has claimed that the United States Secret Service (USSS) told agents not to request additional manpower ahead of the July 13 rally that saw former President Donald J. Trump shot by a would-be assassin.
The National Pluse reported shortly after Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Trump that the USSS was understaffed during the rally and that many of those present were inexperienced Homeland Security (DHS) agents rather than USSS agents.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) released a letter on Friday addressed to acting USSS Director Ronald Rowe Jr. alleging that a whistleblower had contradicted his testimony before a Senate hearing in which Rowe claimed no assets were denied to agents at the Butler, Pennslyvania rally.
Additionally, the acting USSS Director repeatedly insisted that he had not personally rejected any requests.
Sen. Hawley‘s letter explains that agents can typically submit a request to the USSS‘s Office of Protective Operations—Manpower (OPO—Manpower).
However, the whistleblower contends that agents assigned to former President Trump‘s detail had been told not to submit such requests, and any sent would be denied.
The revelation comes after several USSS agents were put on leave over the Trump shooting, including the special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office and a member of Trump‘s personal security detail.
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