Janice R. Andrews
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Acting Director Ronald Rowe of the Secret Service verified on Tuesday the existence of an internal email sent by a countersniper, which was critical of the agency’s leadership after former President Donald Trump was assassinated. The email, which sparked a lot of controversy, accused senior authorities of not doing more to shield national leaders.
The email was distributed to the entire Uniformed Division of the Secret Service on Monday night after being first made public by RealClearPolitics. The anonymous author pledged to don’t stop writing until “five high-level supervisors (1 down) are either fired or removed from their current positions.” The phrase “1 down” seems to be directed at former Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned last week following a heated testimony before a House committee looking into the shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
The “very telling” communication was brought up by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) during a combined Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee meeting. Blackburn echoed the worries expressed in the email writer by questioning the agency’s leadership and readiness when reading from the correspondence.
“If not now, when will this agency change? The following murder in thirty days?” After reading, Blackburn claimed that the email had been removed from the agency’s files. The countersniper, who claimed to have worked for the agency for more than 20 years, alerted us to the possibility of another attempted murder before November, blaming the danger on agency leadership shortcomings.
Senator Blackburn questioned Rowe about his thoughts on the matter of workers being more focused on preserving themselves than on defending a past president. “I am hurt by that email… because my people are hurting right now,” Rowe replied. They are necessary to us.”
After Cheatle resigned, Rowe took over as leader. He acknowledged not knowing the email had been deleted and promised to look into the situation. He indicated that he would be open to making adjustments and responding to internal criticism.
The email writer described earlier attempts to voice concerns to managers, including those in charge of training initiatives and the countersniper team, but had a sense of being ignored. The writer regretted, saying they were no longer pleased to be a part of the Secret Service. “I have conveyed my concerns over the years, only to be brushed off as if those with less experience somehow knew more than me,” the writer said.
“The team I was once proud to be a part of is something I have to somehow hide as I move into my next career,” the message said.
Rowe replied by pledging his commitment to change. “This agency is in pain. Feelings are unfiltered. Actually, I’d want to hear more from that technician and duty officer,” he remarked. “I am committed to being a change agent, meaning I am committed to reviewing some of these things.”
This internal conflict coincides with requests for quick and significant reforms as the Secret Service is under severe examination for its capacity to protect prominent individuals.
