Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe recently faced scrutiny during a Senate hearing, where he was unable to pinpoint who denied requests by former President Donald Trump’s security detail over the past two years. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) brought up a July 20, 2024, Washington Post report alleging that top officials of the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied requests for additional resources and personnel sought by Trump’s detail during this period.
Director Rowe responded to Senator Cruz’s inquiry by stating that there were times when assets were unavailable and not able to be filled, which led to state and local law enforcement tactical assets stepping in to fill the gaps. However, he did not provide a specific name or person who makes the decision to deny these requests within the Secret Service. Instead, Rowe cited a “process” that exists between field offices, logistics offices, and the detail when making such decisions.
Senator Cruz questioned if there was a decision-maker involved in this process, asking Rowe for a name. Rowe again refused to give a specific person’s name but emphasized that it was not a bureaucracy but rather a conversation between various offices within the Secret Service. He explained that the process involves a request for staffing or technical assets from the detail, which is then handled between the field office and the detail before being passed up to a logistics office.
The senator continued to press Rowe on identifying the person responsible for denying requests for additional security, specifically mentioning Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request as an example. According to government watchdog Judicial Watch, Michael Plati, the assistant director of the Office of Protective Operations, was reportedly the same person who denied Kennedy’s request and potentially Trump’s requests as well.
However, Rowe refused to confirm or deny if this were the case. He instead emphasized that there is a process for candidate nominees to receive protection and highlighted that Kennedy’s request had been referred to the Candidate Protection Advisory Committee (CPAC. The senator expressed his belief that Secret Service leadership may have made a political decision to deny Trump’s detail requests, suggesting a connection between denying additional security for both Trump and Kennedy.
Senator Cruz also asked Rowe to provide written requests by the Trump campaign or Trump’s detail for additional resources as well as every response from the Secret Service. Rowe agreed to provide these responses and gather the necessary information. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) followed up on Cruz’s line of questioning, asking Rowe who was responsible for denying requests from Trump’s detail. Rowe again cited a conversation between various offices within the Secret Service but did not provide a specific title or position.
In summary, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe faced questions regarding the denial of additional security resources and personnel sought by former President Donald Trump’s security detail over the past two years. While Rowe acknowledged that there are times when assets were unavailable and local law enforcement filled the gaps, he could not provide a specific person responsible for making such decisions, only referring to a “process” involving multiple offices within the Secret Service.