The U.S. Secret Service’s acting director will appear Thursday before a House panel investigating security lapses involved in two failed assassination attempts of President-elect Donald Trump.
Acting Director Ronald Rowe will testify as the task force, of seven Republicans and six Democrats, prepares to issue a final report on its probe.
“It is essential that we recognize the gravity of our failure on July 13, 2024. I personally carry the weight of knowing that we almost lost a protectee and that our failure cost a father and husband his life,” Rowe said in prepared testimony ahead of the hearing.
“This entire incident represents the failure to meet the expectations and responsibilities of the Secret Service.”
The Secret Service has faced questions over its staffing levels and communication capabilities after Trump twice survived attempts on his life during this year’s presidential campaign.
A gunman fired eight shots during a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, wounding Trump in the ear and killing another attendee. The gunman was shot and killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
