Secret Service director acknowledges ‘failures’ in July assassination attempt on Trump

The acting director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, acknowledged on Friday, September 20, errors on the part of the service responsible for protecting senior American political figures during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13. Certain problems with the firing line had, for example, been noted but not reported to the hierarchy.

The internal investigation “found deficiencies in the Secret Service’s upstream planning and implementation”he said at a press conference. “While some of the scouting team were very conscientious, others were negligent.”said Ronald Rowe, referring to future sanctions.

Ronald Rowe is taking over for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned on July 23 after admitting responsibility for the “Secret Service’s biggest operational failure in decades”. Among the lessons to be learned from the fiasco, the interim director cited “a lack of clarity” in the Secret Service’s exchanges with local police as well as gaps in the transmission of information.