Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri sent a letter to Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on Wednesday. Second assassination attempt on former president President Trump visited West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday.
A whistleblower who “has direct knowledge of Secret Service security at former President Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach and who actually protected President Trump at that location” filed a complaint with Attorney General Hawley's office earlier this week alleging that “the fencing surrounding the course has 'known vulnerabilities,'” including “areas that provide visibility to the former president and others playing on the course.”
“As a result, the whistleblower alleges that it is Secret Service practice to have agents stationed at these vulnerable locations when Mr. Trump visits the golf course. This apparently did not occur on September 15th,” Hawley wrote in his letter to Rowe. “Instead, the shooter was allowed to remain along and near the fence for approximately 12 hours.”
Hawley told reporters Thursday that the whistleblower told him “this is standard procedure for the Secret Service.” [that] The course has known vulnerabilities.”
Watch on FOX NATION: The Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump
Sen. Josh Hawley is questioning whistleblower allegations surrounding the second assassination attempt on former President Trump, which took place in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg)
“That means locations that have a clear line of sight from people off the course who are playing the course,” Hawley explained. “So it's customary for Secret Service agents to be stationed at these known locations before Trump plays the course. Apparently that didn't happen. It appears they didn't even do a sweep of the area, which is really bizarre. And that's why a shooter was able to remain unsaid in one of these known vulnerable locations for 12 hours until he was within a few hundred yards of Trump.”
Secret Service agents were able to neutralize the threat allegedly posed by Ryan Routh on Sunday. Routh was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Authorities said more charges may be filed against Routh at a later date.
New whistleblower claims Trump assassination attempt caused 'huge damage' to Secret Service: Hawley
Acting Attorney General Ronald Rowe Jr. speaks during a press conference regarding the assassination attempt on former President Trump, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Mega from Fox News Digital)
Hawley added in his letter that it was also unclear “whether agents searched the perimeter of the golf course or whether drones were used to monitor the perimeter of the fence” on Sunday, when the former president was playing golf.
Trump blames Biden-Harris 'comments' for latest assassination attempt, says they'll 'save the country'
“In reality, it is unlikely that a potential assassin could have remained undetected in the vicinity of the course for such a long period of time,” the senators wrote.
Read the letter here: Mobile Users click here.
He further asked whether Secret Service agents were stationed at “known vulnerable” locations along the perimeter fence of Trump International Golf Club, whether agents had searched the perimeter before the former president arrived at the course, whether they “used canine units and/or unmanned aerial system (UAS) elements to monitor the perimeter,” whether there were counter-surveillance agents on the golf course, and what the “specific counter-surveillance mitigation plan” was that day.
Trump assassination plot exposed, Ryan Routh bomb seized, pro deaths at barricade with illegal guns
FBI agents collected evidence around the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday, September 16, 2024. (Mega from Fox News Digital)
Click here to get the FOX News app
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Secret Service for comment.
Senator Hawley is not currently a member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which is investigating the two assassination attempts on President Trump since July, but the Missouri senator is conducting his own independent investigations into both incidents.
