A hearing of the bipartisan task force investigating the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump devolved into a shouting match when Republican Rep. Pat Fallon accused acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe of “playing politics” when he attended a 9/11 memorial event with the nation’s top leaders.
Yelling between the two broke out after Fallon displayed a photo of Trump, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance at the event in New York City in September. Rowe was standing directly behind Harris, then a candidate for the presidency, in the second row.
“Who is usually, at an event like this, closest to the president of the United States, security-wise?” Fallon, of Texas, asked Rowe.
“The SAC of the detail,” Rowe answered, referring to the special agent in charge of security. Fallon then questioned whether the acting director was serving in that role at the 9/11 memorial.
Rowe did not answer directly. He said the photo did not show the special agent in charge because he was just out of the frame and told Fallon that he was at the event to show respect for Secret Service members who died on 9/11. “That is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 that have died on 9/11,” he said. “I actually responded to Ground Zero. I was there going through the ashes at the World Trade Center.”
Rowe condemned Fallon, telling him, “Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes.”The video player is currently playing an ad.Skip Ad
The congressman, meanwhile, said Rowe’s explanation was “a bunch of horse hockey.”
“Don’t try to bully me,” Fallon told Rowe. “I am an elected member of Congress and I’m asking you a serious question and you are playing politics.”
The acting director then shouted back: “And I am a public servant who has served this nation and spent time on our country’s darkest day. Do not politicize it.”
Apparently some weaponized MAGA “whistleblower” told the Republicans on the committee that this guy was angling for his promotion by being in the picture and somehow that endangered Donald Trump. Or something.
But it says everything a bout our juvenile, macho political culture. Maybe they should just stage wrestling matches on the House floor. It would be just as fake but more entertaining. At least for the people who get off on this stuff. I prefer Animal Planet but that’s just me.