Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli on Wednesday rebuked acting director Ronald Rowe Jr. over his testimony on Tuesday about the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
Rowe got into multiple heatedexchanges with Republicans during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Staropoli, on āFox & Friends,ā said Roweās testimony did not meet the expectations of how a Secret Service director should answer to U.S. representatives.
WATCH:Ā
āIf nothing else, he certainly proved that he can read a statement that was prepared for him. But, you know, the public, the rank and file, the entire world was watching that testimony. And they expect the Secret Service director to answer questions directly and bluntly and pointedly,ā Staropoli said. āNot to lose their composure and certainly not to get argumentative with congressmen and senators who are approving your budget. Thatās part of the problem.ā
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz accused Rowe of not directly answering questions regarding decision-making in the Secret Service and the number of agents Trump has compared to President Joe Biden. Cruz eventually told the acting director to āstop interruptingā him as he loudly talked over the senator.
Starapoli also called for a āhousecleaningā of the Secret Service.
āThe director of the Secret Service did not put on anywhere near the performance that she should have two weeks ago. And she passed the baton to these folks to include the acting director and the bench that is sitting behind them,ā he said. āThese are all legacy leaders. They all have to go. Theyāre the ones that are more culpable and responsible for setting up the tone and the attitudes which led to what happened operationally three weeks ago. Not only do they need to get rid of the folks that were on the ground, that were directly responsible for what happened here three weeks ago, but the leadership has to go as well.ā
Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley engaged in a shouting match with Rowe where he told the acting director to fire people in his agency.
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