Staff Reports
Senator Josh Hawley has raised eyebrows with his call for the suspension of an allegedly “inexperienced” lead site agent from the Secret Service, who was in charge of security during former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Rather than maintaining a sacred duty to protect, it seems that this agent may have decided to experiment with the principle of “security theater.” Hawley wasted no time pointing out the whistleblower testimonies that raised serious concerns about whether protection protocols were more of a suggestion than an order that day.
In a letter to Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, Hawley outlined the various reports he received from whistleblowers claiming that the lead agent was not exactly a seasoned veteran. According to these sources, this individual not only lacked experience but also seemed to make dubious choices that might have compromised the security of the event. The senator’s alarm bells were ringing particularly loud since Rowe had previously assured Congress that this agent was still “operational,” which is what one might call the perfect example of “too little, too late” in terms of accountability.
🚨🚨 NEW – Whistleblowers tell me the lead site agent in charge of the Butler rally was known to be inexperienced, ineffective and not up to the job – and on the day failed to implement basic security protocols – yet this person is STILL on active duty. Why? 👇 pic.twitter.com/EhfUSCvnJ0
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 6, 2024
Hawley highlighted that one of the whistleblowers indicated that within campaign circles, this agent was infamous for their ineptitude. It seems there’s nothing like a good ol’ dose of familiarity with incompetence to make one’s security job easier—or, in this case, potentially riskier. Reports have suggested that this lead agent was relatively new to the field office, which is the kind of detail that inspires confidence when it comes to protecting the former leader of the free world.
Adding insult to injury, Hawley noted that specific security protocols were apparently disregarded. Flags were allowed near the stage, a move that could easily obstruct views for agents attempting to identify potential threats. When a lead agent is more focused on creating a festive atmosphere than ensuring safety, it raises several eyebrows. Is putting on a show more important than securing a venue? It’s a question that Hawley feels should be addressed immediately.
In addition to the flag fiasco, allegedly IDs weren’t checked for credentials that granted access to restricted areas. This sort of oversight suggests that even basic procedures were glossed over. Add in the revelation that agents from Homeland Security Investigations had never been present at prior rallies, and it becomes clear that something isn’t quite right. With all these layers of incompetence, one has to wonder—how did this agent manage to keep their position after such a show of ineffectiveness? Hawley is not just calling for an investigation; he is calling for immediate action to suspend the lead site agent, reinforcing the notion that security should never be taken lightly, especially when it comes to a former president.
