Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli on Wednesday criticized Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. for his testimony on Tuesday about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Rowe has had many heated debates with Republicans. testimony The testimony came before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On “Fox & Friends,” Stapoli said Rowe's testimony did not meet the expectations of how a Secret Service director should answer to U.S. representatives. (Related: Security was stationed on rooftop used by Trump rally shooter, but it was reportedly abandoned due to “hot weather.”)
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Ex-Secret Service officer slams agency chief for 'controversial' testimony about Trump assassination attempt pic.twitter.com/pIzLL3cuZt
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“At the very least, he's proven that he can read the statement that's been prepared for him, but, you know, the public, the rank and file, the whole world is watching that testimony, and they expect the director of the Secret Service to answer questions directly, candidly and to the point,” Staropoli said. “Don't lose your cool, don't get into an argument with the congressmen and senators who are approving the budget. That's part of the problem.”
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas criticized Rowe for not directly answering questions about Secret Service decision-making and the number of agents Trump has compared to President Joe Biden. Cruz eventually told the acting director to “stop interrupting” Rowe because he was interrupting senators and talking too loudly.
Starapoli also called for a “cleaning up” of the Secret Service.
“The director of the Secret Service did not perform at all as he should have two weeks ago and has passed the baton to these people, including the acting director and the bench behind him,” he said. “They are all legacy leaders. They all must resign. They are the ones who are responsible and accountable for creating the tone and the attitude that led to the operational events that occurred three weeks ago. Not only do the people on the ground who were directly responsible for what happened here three weeks ago need to be fired, but the leadership must resign.”
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has had an altercation with Rowe and ordered his acting bureau chief to fire the officer.
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