Josh Hawley To Acting Secret Service Director: Why Has No One Involved In Trump Shooting Been Fired?

Summary

In a heated exchange, a senator questions the Secret Service director about the absence of counter-snipers on a roof overlooking a shooting incident involving a former president. The director defends the agency's protocols and ongoing investigations, while the senator urges accountability for the security lapses. Whistleblowers' claims of law enforcement abandoning their post and the rejection of offered drones are also discussed, highlighting the need for transparency and improved security measures.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The script discusses a photograph of the AGR roof, which is a vantage point for law enforcement to see a potential shooter clearly.
• 🤔 There is a debate about why there wasn't a Secret Service counter-sniper on the roof with a clear line of sight to the former president.
• 🛡 The Secret Service's counter-sniper role is to neutralize threats looking in on the protectee, but their positioning was questioned after the incident.
• 👤 The lead site agent's identity is undisclosed, and they are still operational, undergoing investigations and protective visits.
• 🚫 The person responsible for the security perimeter decision has not been relieved of duty, as the investigation is still ongoing.
• 🔍 The decision-making process regarding security protocols is under scrutiny, with calls for a revision in light of the incident.
• 🚨 There is a suggestion that the protocols may not have been sufficient, as they did not account for a situation where a former president was shot.
• 🤝 The director of the Secret Service emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation before holding anyone accountable for the incident.
• 🚷 It is denied that the director was involved in denying additional security resources and personnel to President Trump's team over the past two years.
• 🌡 Whistleblowers claim that law enforcement abandoned their post on the roof due to the heat, which is a point of contention in the script.
• 🚁 There was an offer from local law enforcement to provide drones for the event, which was allegedly declined by the Secret Service.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised by the chairman regarding the security setup during the incident?

The chairman is concerned about the absence of a Secret Service counter-sniper on the AGR roof, which had a clear line of sight to the former president and should have been within the security perimeter.

What is the role of a Secret Service counter-sniper according to the script?

The role of a Secret Service counter-sniper is to neutralize threats that are looking in on the protectee, ensuring their safety.

Why was there no counter-sniper on the AGR roof as per the chairman's inquiry?

The script does not provide a clear reason for the absence of a counter-sniper on the AGR roof, but it suggests that the decision-making process and protocol may need revision in light of the incident.

Who is the lead site agent and did they make the decision to exclude the AGR building from the security perimeter?

The identity of the lead site agent is not disclosed in the script, and it is unclear whether they made the decision to exclude the AGR building from the security perimeter.

Has the person responsible for the security perimeter decision been relieved of duty?

According to the script, the person responsible has not been relieved of duty as they are still cooperating with investigations by the FBI and the office of professional responsibility.

What is the chairman's stance on rushing to judgment regarding the security failure?

The chairman is against rushing to judgment and insists on a thorough investigation to determine accountability and the facts surrounding the security failure.

What was the reported issue with the interoperability of radio frequencies between local law enforcement and the Secret Service?

The script suggests that there was a challenge with the interoperability of radio frequencies, which is a larger issue than just one person being at fault, and that a counterpart system failed on the day of the incident.

Did the director deny additional security resources and personnel to President Trump's team?

The director denies being involved in denying any additional security resources and personnel to President Trump's team, contradicting the report from real clear politics mentioned in the script.

What is the claim made by whistleblowers regarding law enforcement abandoning their post?

Whistleblowers claim that law enforcement were supposed to be stationed on the roof but abandoned their post due to the heat, which the director is still trying to understand and verify.

Was there an offer to use drones from local law enforcement, and if so, was it declined?

Yes, there was an offer to fly a drone on the day of the incident, and it is suggested in the script that the offer was declined, although the director does not confirm the denial personally.

What is the director's view on the transparency and forthcoming nature of the agency?

The director believes they have been transparent and forthcoming, but the chairman suggests that the agency as a whole has not been, indicating a potential discrepancy.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Oversight and Accountability in Security Protocols

The first paragraph of the video script discusses an incident where a former president was shot, highlighting the absence of a secret service counter-sniper on the roof of the AGR building, which had a clear line of sight to the president. The conversation revolves around the questioning of the security measures in place, the responsibility of the lead site agent, and the decision-making process that led to the exclusion of the AGR building from the security perimeter. The senator and the director engage in a tense exchange about the need for a thorough investigation into the incident, the potential for protocol revisions, and the accountability of those involved in the security planning.

05:02

🚨 Critique of Security Decisions and Resources Allocation

In the second paragraph, the dialogue continues with the senator expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and the alleged denial of additional security resources to President Trump's team. The senator also raises concerns about reports suggesting law enforcement abandoned their post due to the heat and questions the director's knowledge of the incident's details. The conversation touches on the challenges of interoperability between local law enforcement and the secret service, the offer of drones for surveillance that was reportedly declined, and the need for a comprehensive review of security protocols to prevent future incidents.

Keywords

💡Vantage Point

The term 'vantage point' refers to a position or angle from which something can be seen clearly or is most easily understood. In the video's context, it is used to discuss the strategic positioning of law enforcement to observe and respond to a potential threat, specifically the shooter's location on the AGR roof.

💡Secret Service Counter Sniper

A 'Secret Service Counter Sniper' is a specially trained individual within the Secret Service whose role is to neutralize threats from a distance, often with a high-powered rifle. The video discusses the absence of such a sniper on the AGR roof, which is a point of contention regarding the security protocol during the event.

💡Security Perimeter

The 'security perimeter' is a designated boundary established to protect a person or area from potential threats. In the script, the lack of a security perimeter around the AGR building is questioned, as it was not included despite the clear line of sight it provided to the event.

💡Lead Site Agent

The 'lead site agent' is the individual responsible for overseeing security operations at a specific location. The video script inquires about the identity and decisions made by this person, particularly regarding the exclusion of the AGR building from the security perimeter.

💡Interoperability

Interoperability in the context of the video refers to the ability of different systems or organizations to work together effectively, especially in terms of communication. The script mentions issues with interoperability of radio frequencies between local law enforcement and the Secret Service during the event.

💡Mission Assurance

'Mission Assurance' involves processes and investigations conducted to ensure that an operation or mission is carried out successfully and to identify areas of failure. The director in the video mentions mission assurance as part of the ongoing investigation into the security failures.

💡Protocol

A 'protocol' is a set of established rules or procedures to be followed in a particular situation. The video discusses the need to potentially revise security protocols in light of the incident, as the existing ones may not have adequately addressed the situation.

💡Accountability

In the video, 'accountability' is the concept of holding individuals responsible for their actions or decisions, particularly when they result in negative outcomes. The senator is pressing for accountability from those who made decisions regarding security measures.

💡Whistleblowers

A 'whistleblower' is a person who exposes wrongdoing, often within an organization. The script mentions whistleblowers who claim law enforcement abandoned their post due to the heat, and this information is used to question the director's knowledge and handling of the situation.

💡Drones

In the context of the video, 'drones' refer to unmanned aerial vehicles that could have been used to enhance security during the event. The script discusses an offer of drones from local law enforcement that was allegedly declined by the Secret Service.

💡Rush to Judgment

'Rush to judgment' means making a hasty decision without fully considering all the facts. The director in the video is accused of not rushing to judgment, implying that a thorough investigation is needed before determining responsibility for the security failures.

Highlights

The photograph of the AGR roof is presented as a key vantage point for law enforcement.

Concern raised about the absence of a Secret Service counter-sniper on the AGR roof with a clear line of sight to the former president.

Discussion on the Secret Service's counter-sniper role to neutralize threats looking into the protectee's location.

Suggestion to revise security protocols in light of the incident involving the former president being shot.

Inquiry about the lead site agent's decision to exclude the AGR building from the security perimeter.

The refusal to disclose the name of the individual responsible for the security perimeter decision due to ongoing investigations.

Statement that the individual in question has not been relieved of duty and is cooperating with investigations.

Debate on whether the incident constitutes a mission failure and the need for accountability.

Emphasis on the need for a thorough investigation before holding anyone accountable for the security lapses.

Senator's frustration with the lack of transparency and the pace of the investigation.

Denial of any involvement in denying additional security resources and personnel to President Trump's team over the past two years.

Whistleblowers' claims that law enforcement abandoned their post on the roof due to the heat.

Discussion on the availability and decline of local law enforcement's offer to provide drones for the event.

Director's commitment to ensuring state and local counter-snipers are on roofs for future events.

Acknowledgment of the failure in security and the promise to get to the bottom of the incident.

Senator's call for a revision of protocols in response to the shooting incident involving a former president.

Director's assurance of integrity in the investigation process and refusal to rush to judgment.

Transcripts

than you Mr chairman director Ro can you

put your first poster your first

demonstrative back up please put a up

please just make sure everybody can see

it this is the photograph I believe that

you took your team took of the roof the

AGR roof yeah that's the one okay so

from this Vantage Point as as the law

enforcement who are in those windows as

they look left they should be able to

see the shooter clearly there on the AGR

second floor roof my question is why is

there not a secret service counter

sniper on that roof so Senator we're um

when we post up our is our methodology

is to look out look at things that can

see in on our protes uh so that they can

provide that coverage but why why is

there not a a secret service counter

sniper there with clear line of sight

that roof has a clear line of sight to

the former president why didn't you put

a secret service counter sniper there uh

the secret Services counter sniper role

is to neutralize those threats that are

looking in on us uh from where the

protecte is not necessarily uh think

maybe you might want to revise that

protocol in light of what happened here

uh they were protecting the principal

and I think in the principal got shot I

understand that sir so do you think you

might want to revise the protocol let me

ask you this who is the lead site agent

who made the decision to leave the AGR

building completely outside of the

security perimeter who was that Senator

I cannot give you that name this person

is operational they're still doing

investigations they're still doing

protective visits have they being

relieved of Duty Senator uh they have

not Dy way why have they not been

relieved of Duty they are still

cooperating not only being interviewed

by the FBI but also by our office of

professional responsibility and uh we

will let the facts of uh the mission

assurance and any further investigations

play out is it isn't the fact that a

former president was shot that a good

American is dead that other americ were

critically wounded isn't that enough

Mission failure for you to say that the

person who decided that that building

should not be in the security perimeter

probably ought to be stepped down

Senator I think you're using the word

decided and I think we need to allow the

the investigation play out to include

okay so who did who did make the

decision then if it wasn't the lead site

agent who made the decision not to put

that in the security per Senator you're

zeroing in on one particular agent I

want to find out exactly what was the

entire decision process so I think I

want to be neutral and make sure that we

get to the bottom of it and interview

everybody in order to determine if there

was more than one person who perhaps

exercised bad judgment well sure my

question is why don't you relieve

everybody of Duty who made bad judgment

so yeah you're right I am zering it on

somebody I'm trying to find somebody

who's accountable here and so you're

telling me that the person who made the

decision not to include this in the

perimeter has not been relieved of Duty

what about the person who's in charge of

the

interoperability of radio frequencies

between local law enforcement and secret

service has that person been relieved of

Duty uh no Senator because

interoperability is a challenge uh is a

greater challenge than just one person

on that day we had a counterpart system

uh it

failed the person who decided who made

the decision to send Donald Trump on the

stage knowing that you had a security

situation has that person been relieved

of Duty no sir they haven't because as

the person who decided not to pull the

former president off of stage when you

knew that in your words the locals were

working a serious security situation has

that person been relieved of Duty uh no

sir again I refer you back to my

original answer that we are

investigating this through a mission

assurance and as opposed to zeroing in

on one what do

youate find out exactly what more do you

need to investigate to know that there

were critical enough failures that some

individuals ought to be held accountable

I mean what more do you need to know

what I need to know is exactly what

happened and I need my investigators to

do their job and I can people didn't do

their job canot put my thumb on the

scale otherwise what do you mean put

your thumb on scale the objective the

object you're asking me Senator to

completely make a rush to judgment about

somebody failing I acknowledge this was

a failure of the is it not Prim a fascia

that somebody has failed a former

president was shot sir this could have

been our Texas schoolbook depository I

have lost sleep over that for the last

17 days like

somebody Senator I will tell you Senator

that I will not rush to judgment that

people will be held accountable and I

will do so with

integrity and not rush to judgment and

put people unfairly pers I unfairly

persecuted people who are de we have to

be able to have a proper investigation

into this Senator you said earlier that

you've got to make sure that your

Protocols are followed and unless

there's a protocol violation people

wouldn't be disciplined I would just say

to you I don't really care that much

about your protocols I think if your

protocols don't provide for the fact

that when a former president is shot

when an American is killed when other

rally goers innocent people who just

showed up on the day when they are shot

at and critically wounded if that isn't

a protocol violation Prima fascia you

should revise your protocols Senator I

think this is where you and I agree this

was a failure and we will get to the

bottom of it well I hope you're going to

do something about it let me ask you

something

else the real clear politics reports

this morning that you were directly

involved in denying additional security

resources and Personnel including

counter snipers not just to this event

but over the last two years that

President's Trump president Trump's team

repeatedly asked for these additional

resources and you personally were

involved in denying them is is that true

Senator as I stated earlier that is not

true so you never denied any resources

to former president Trump's team uh no

not me no sir you weren't and you

weren't involved in any of that you were

never involved in the decision making no

sir I was not let let me ask you just

one or two other things here quickly

well whistleblowers tell me that in fact

law enforcement were stationed to be on

that roof and that law enforcement

abandoned their post because it was too

hot it's that accurate Senator I have

heard that as well uh again uh they post

it up inside and I think moving forward

as I as I said earlier we're going to

ensure that state and local counter

snipers are on roofs but but do you do

you know if someone was supposed to be

on the roof do you know if someone was

in fact that's what the whistleblowers

tells me that may or may not be accurate

do you know that to be the fact was

somebody posted to the roof local law

enforcement or whomever uh I do not know

that to be a fact well can I ask you why

you don't know that again Senator we are

looking at this and they should have

been on that roof and the fact that they

were in the building is something that

I'm still trying to uh uh understand I

just want to express my frustration

director that 17 days or whatever it's

been that you that whistleblowers are

telling us more than you are and you

don't know you haven't ascertained if

there were supposed to be law

enforcement on the roof that seems like

a pretty basic fact I'm also told that

local law enforcement suppliers offered

the Secret Service drones and you

declined them is that true so Senator uh

one I've been very transparent and

forthcoming uh there your agency has not

been transparent and forth forthcoming

so please let's not go there I have been

forthcoming sir youve been will that

remains to be seen you've been on the

job a few days so far you've fired

nobody now the drones thank you sir were

you offered drones Senator so there was

an offer to fly a drone on that day and

why did you deny it uh again uh I think

the ability of local law enforcement to

provide an asset we probably should have

taken them up on it if we if it was

offered Senator

Cruz thank you Mr chairman