'Don't Try And Play A Shell Game With Us!': Pete Sessions Does Not Let Up On Secret Service Director

Summary

During a committee hearing, a director is questioned about his ability to understand and take responsibility for an incident involving his agency. Despite having 28 years of experience, he has not provided a clear analysis or taken immediate corrective action. The director insists on waiting for a final report, frustrating committee members who expect him to use his expertise to identify failures and initiate changes. An internal investigation is expected to be completed within 60 days, alongside external and FBI investigations.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The chairman expresses doubt in the director's ability to understand and take responsibility for the incident in question.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The director has been with the agency for 28 years, yet there's an emphasis on waiting for a final report for answers.
• 📞 The chairman, having experience in a similar role at AT&T, questions why the director can't provide immediate analysis or insight.
• 🚫 There have been no disciplinary actions taken against employees involved in the incident in Butler, PA, as of the time of the hearing.
• 🔍 The director is being pressed to analyze and identify what went wrong without relying on others for the final report.
• 🗓️ The director mentions an internal investigation aiming to be completed within 60 days, along with other ongoing external investigations.
• 🤷‍♂️ The director is criticized for deferring to others for decision-making and not taking a clear stance on the incident's issues.
• 👥 There is an expectation from the committee for the director to demonstrate leadership and take decisive action based on his experience.
• 📉 The director's responses are perceived as inadequate by the committee, reflecting a lack of confidence in his handling of the situation.
• 🔄 The conversation highlights a tension between the need for immediate answers and the process of thorough investigation.
• 🏛️ The congressional members are eager for transparency and accountability, pushing for the director to take a more proactive role in resolving the incident.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by the speaker regarding the director's performance?

The speaker is concerned that the director has not demonstrated the ability to understand what happened in the incident at Butler, PA, nor has he taken responsibility for it, despite having 28 years of experience with the agency.

How long has the director been with the agency according to the speaker?

The director has been with the agency for 28 years, as mentioned in the script.

What is the speaker's previous experience that he references in the hearing?

The speaker references his 16 years of experience with AT&T, where he moved seven times and gained a good understanding of operations and responsibilities.

What does the speaker expect from the director in terms of understanding the incident?

The speaker expects the director to have a clear understanding of the incident and to be able to provide credible answers without having to wait for a final report.

Has any employee been disciplined for their role in the Butler, PA incident according to the director's statement?

No, according to the director, no employee has been disciplined or placed in a position that would jeopardize their job or standing in the agency at this time.

What is the director's response to the speaker's request for an immediate analysis of what went wrong?

The director acknowledges that something went wrong but states that he is still waiting for a full and complete report to determine accountability and make necessary changes.

What is the timeframe the director provides for the internal investigation to be completed?

The director mentions that they are targeting to complete the internal investigation within 60 days.

What other investigations are mentioned in the script besides the internal one?

Besides the internal investigation, there are also external investigations by the Office of Inspector General and a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI.

What does the speaker imply about the director's ability to make changes within the agency?

The speaker implies that the director, with his 28 years of experience, should be able to identify system failures and make immediate corrections without waiting for a final report.

What is the speaker's final stance on the director's position?

The speaker does not ask for the director's resignation but challenges him to use his professional expertise to provide clear answers and take responsibility for the incident.

Who is recognized to respond after the director in the script?

Missio Cortez from New York is recognized to respond after the director.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Accountability and Confidence in Agency Leadership

The first paragraph features a member of Congress expressing dissatisfaction with the director of an agency for not demonstrating a clear understanding of an incident and for failing to take responsibility. The member questions the director's ability to lead, given their extensive experience, and criticizes the director's reliance on waiting for a final report to provide answers. The member also inquires about any disciplinary actions taken against employees involved in the incident, to which the director responds that no actions have been taken as the investigation is ongoing. The member emphasizes the need for the director to use their expertise to analyze and correct the situation immediately.

05:02

🕒 Commitment to Investigation Timeline and Accountability

In the second paragraph, the director assures the committee of a full and complete report on the incident, promising accountability and changes once the report is complete. The director provides a timeline for the internal investigation, targeting completion within 60 days. Additionally, they mention external investigations by the Inspector General and the Department of Justice, as well as an FBI criminal investigation. The dialogue also includes a procedural aspect where the chair recognizes another member of Congress, Missio Cortez from New York, to pose questions.

Keywords

💡Bipartisan

Bipartisan refers to the cooperation or agreement between two major political parties, typically in the context of legislation or hearings. In the video, the term is used to describe the nature of the hearing, indicating that it is not dominated by one political party and aims for a balanced approach. The speaker acknowledges the director's efforts in conducting a bipartisan hearing.

💡Confidence

Confidence here refers to the trust or belief in someone's ability to perform a task or role effectively. The speaker expresses a lack of confidence in the director's ability to understand the situation and take responsibility, highlighting the importance of leadership and accountability in the context of the hearing.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility in this context means having the obligation to respond or be accountable for something, particularly in a leadership role. The speaker questions the director's sense of responsibility regarding the incident discussed, emphasizing the need for the director to demonstrate understanding and ownership of the situation.

💡Final Report

A final report is a comprehensive document that summarizes findings, conclusions, and recommendations after an investigation or study. The speaker repeatedly mentions the director's reliance on waiting for the final report, critiquing this as a deferral of immediate analysis and action, which is crucial for understanding the urgency and gravity of the incident.

💡Accountability

Accountability is the obligation to report on or be responsible for one's actions. The director assures that once the final report is available, there will be accountability, suggesting that actions will be taken based on the findings. The speaker, however, challenges this timeline, implying that immediate insight and action are expected from the director's experience.

💡Discipline

Discipline in an organizational context refers to the process of maintaining order and enforcing obedience to rules through punishment or corrective measures. The speaker inquires if any employees have been disciplined for their role in the incident, indicating a desire for immediate consequences and a sign of the organization's commitment to rectifying the situation.

💡Jeopardy

Jeopardy means a situation in which someone is exposed to potential harm or risk. The speaker mentions that no employee has been placed in jeopardy regarding their job or standing in the agency, which reflects on the protective measures in place for employees during an ongoing investigation.

💡Professional

Professional refers to a person who is engaged or qualified in a profession that requires specialized knowledge or skills. The speaker questions the director's professional judgment and ability to analyze the situation quickly, given their extensive experience, and contrasts this with the expectation of immediate and accurate assessments in a professional setting.

💡Evaluation

Evaluation is the process of judging or estimating the significance, quality, or condition of something. The speaker asks for the director's evaluation of the incident, expecting a clear and informed opinion based on the director's expertise and years of experience, which is central to the speaker's argument for immediate action.

💡Shell Game

A shell game is a type of confidence trick used with three shells and a small ball where the small ball is hidden under one of the shells and the victim is to guess which shell it is under. In the context of the video, the speaker accuses the director of playing a shell game by deflecting questions and not providing clear answers, which undermines the transparency and trust in the director's handling of the situation.

💡Expert

An expert is a person who has a comprehensive understanding of or extensive experience in a particular field. The speaker emphasizes the director's 28 years of experience as an expert in the agency, suggesting that such expertise should enable the director to provide immediate insights and corrective measures, rather than waiting for external reports.

Highlights

Chairman expresses gratitude for the hearing and questions the director's ability to understand and take responsibility for the incident.

Director has been with the agency for 29 years but still defers to waiting for the final report for answers.

Comparison of the director's experience at AT&T and the expectation that he should be able to analyze and understand the incident without waiting for a report.

The director has not yet provided credible answers or demonstrated understanding of the incident after 28 years with the agency.

No employees have been disciplined or had their positions jeopardized regarding the Butler PA incident.

The director is challenged to use his professional expertise and experience to analyze what went wrong instead of waiting for a report.

The director acknowledges that something went wrong but has not yet provided specific details on the failures.

Expectation that the director, with 28 years of experience, should be able to quickly analyze and identify issues from the incident.

The director is urged to take responsibility and make immediate corrections instead of waiting for a final report.

Members of Congress express frustration with the director's lack of concrete answers and reliance on waiting for a report.

The director is challenged to demonstrate his ability to effectively lead the agency and understand what went wrong.

The committee seeks a clear evaluation from the director on what specifically went wrong and what needs to be corrected.

The director commits to providing a full and complete report and holding people accountable once it is available.

An internal investigation is planned to be completed within 60 days, along with external investigations by the Inspector General and the Department of Justice/FBI.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is recognized to speak, indicating a continuation of the hearing and discussion on the incident.

Transcripts

chairman thank you very much I join in

the the calls above all of our members

to say thank you for doing this uh

hearing on a bipartisan

basis director I'm not going to sit here

and say you ought to resign but I am

going to say that you have not given us

confidence that you have the ability to

understand what happened to take the

responsibility in terms of understanding

you've spent a number of years how many

years do you say you've been with the

agency 29 well I spent 16 years with

AT&T moved seven times with them and had

a really good feel about their

operations how they worked what was

acceptable who was responsible and I've

heard you say today numbers of times

well you've got to wait well you've got

to wait wait for the final report when

is the final final going to

happen I am how long do we have to wait

before you can give us credible answers

you've been there 28 years you've had a

few days to be able to draw your own

analysis of this you should understand

the entire process you talked about

being on the team perhaps in Georgia you

have talked about your uh experience in

this you've talked about the

professional nature of the agency that I

don't doubt but the director just like

it was when I ran my operations at AT&T

was responsible for making sure they

worked and in business either works or

it doesn't work there's no in between it

either works or it does not work and

your job as the in essence administrator

the director is to make sure it looks

right and works and I've not heard you

say one thing about my analysis is I

have asked these questions it's always

I've got to sit back and wait for

someone else to decide that so I'm going

to ask you a question that maybe you can

answer have any employees been

disciplined for their role in Butler PA

incident no sir not at this time I am

asking those questions so no employee

has been disciplined and no employee has

been uh placed in any position that

would Place their job in Jeopardy nor

they're standing in the agency we are

still in the process of intervie that's

not what I asked I I you're the person

that runs the place you're the person

that knows right from wrong good from

bad you've had a number of days and now

you come before this committee knowing

you're going to be before us and you've

got to Slough it off to someone else do

you see where there was something that

went wrong as a professional at agency

with 28 years or do you have to count on

someone else to give you the final

report I see that something went wrong

and I've acknowledge that something went

wrong then what went wrong was the

special agent in charge not doing their

job was the shooter not was the shooter

giving extra time was the sniper doing

their job I mean these are things that

people who've been around for 28 years

can analyze quickly I watched it live on

TV and then within minutes saw a number

of facts and factors that would have and

should have been known by people who

were there you've got 28 years you're

showing up here telling us and the

American public well I've got to wait

for the final answer what is your

evaluation I'm asking those same

questions well no you're you're before

the committee tell us what went wrong a

special agent in charge the person who

was there tell us and don't try and play

a shell game with us do you have the

ability to effectively as the Director

of this agency to understand what went

wrong and at least tell us uh I do or

don't know what I'm doing and We Come

Away with and I'm not asking for you to

resign I'm asking for you if you've got

this experience then you should be able

to say to us we know what we did wrong

it was a failure in our system and we're

immediately making these Corrections

that's why you're having a difficult

time with this group of members of

Congress because we saw it too we've

seen the things but you are the 28-year

expert you are the person that and only

you that can make the changes and I hear

you say well I've got to wait for a

final report before I at 28 years

experience that is why we think what

you're doing the answers you're giving

us are not correct and you are not using

your pro professional expertise Mr

chairman I will allow her to respond

I am asking those same questions sir and

I assure you when I have a full and

complete uh report of exactly what

happened there will be accountability

and we will make

changes but before I recognize the

question just out of curiosity director

it's been Nine Days Every American wants

these questions answer do you have a

ballpark estimate of when what Mr

sessions asked you would be able to

answer

so I can tell I can tell you on our

mission Assurance uh internal

investigation we are targeting to have

that completed uh within 60 days there's

also an external investigation that is

going to be taking place there are a

number of office of Inspector General

investigations as well and we are

working in concert and then of course

there's the Department of Justice FBI

criminal investigation chair recognizes

missio Cortez from New York