The acting director of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe Jr., will testify before Congress on Tuesday, alongside FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, regarding the assassination attempt against President Trump.
They will appear for a joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. This marks the first time a member of the Secret Service will testify before Congress since former chief Kimberly Cheatle resigned earlier this month.
Rowe now leads the agency amid growing public and governmental scrutiny following the attack on Trump. He oversees over 7,800 special agents, uniformed officers, and support staff. Before joining the Secret Service, Rowe was part of the West Palm Beach Police Department in Florida. Tony Spatara, the Assistant Police Chief of West Palm Beach, praised Rowe as “very intelligent” and “well-rounded.”
Tuesday's hearing follows the FBI's release of new details about the investigation into the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. According to the FBI, Crooks had a long-standing interest in science and experiments, which led his family not to question the numerous packages he received at their home.
Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh Field Office, stated that Crooks' family did not suspect his activities, despite his online purchases of gun-related items and materials for explosives under various aliases.
Biden is now tasked with appointing a permanent head of the Secret Service. In a statement, Biden indicated that he would make his choice “soon,” emphasizing the importance of understanding the events of July 13 to ensure such an incident does not recur.
