During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Lowe declined to identify individuals who had refused requests for security personnel for former President Donald Trump over the past two years.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has offered Lowe a July 20, 2024 presidential nomination. The Washington Post The report alleges that “the head of the US Secret Service repeatedly rejected requests for additional resources and personnel” from Trump’s aides over the past two years.
Lowe responded, “There are times when assets are not available and cannot be replenished, in which case the shortfall will be made up with tactical assets from state and local law enforcement.”
Cruz asked Lowe, who makes the decisions at the Secret Service to deny these requests.
Rowe did not name individuals, instead referring to “the process.”
“The process is that the unit makes a request for personnel or technical assets, which is then processed between the field office and the unit. It is then sent to the logistics office…” he began.
Cruz interjected, asking, “Okay, so there’s a bureaucracy. Are there decision makers?”
“Senator, this is not bureaucracy. This is a process,” Rowe responded.
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Cruz asked, “Tell me who the decision maker is. Is there a decision maker?”
Rowe countered again, “Senator, this is a conversation. It’s not just a yes or no question.”
Cruz then asked whether the people who denied a request for extra security for independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were the same people who denied extra security for President Trump (according to a government watchdog). Judicial WatchThat person was Michael Plati, deputy director of the Office of Protective Services.
“There’s a simple yes or no question,” Cruz asked. “Did the same people who denied Mr. Trump’s request also deny Mr. RFK’s request? That’s a yes or no question.”
Lowe declined to comment.
“Senator, this is not a question that can be answered with a yes or no. One is that there is a process in place to ensure that our nominees receive protections,” he responded. “Mr. Kennedy submitted a request that was referred to CPAC,” he said, without revealing his initials.
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Oversight and Accountability Committee
Cruz fired back: “Okay, so you’re refusing to answer the question.”
The senator said he believed Secret Service officials made a political decision to deny Trump’s request to provide protection.
“I believe the Biden administration is steeped in partisan politics. The same people who refused requests for additional security for President Trump also repeatedly refused requests for security for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose father was assassinated and whose uncle was assassinated. These are the same people who made those decisions,” Cruz said.
Cruz also asked Rowe to turn over all requests for additional resources made by the Trump campaign and his aides, as well as any responses from the Secret Service.
“Senator, I promise you that we will provide you with the information you are requesting and we will respond to you,” Rowe said.
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