Officials from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, disputed Ronald Rowe Jr.’s testimony before a Senate panel regarding the assassination attempt on former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Rowe, the acting U.S. Secret Service Director, blamed local law enforcement for allowing the incident to occur. During a joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, Rowe admitted that agents were unaware of the man on the roof of the building until it was too late. He also stated that the responsibility for the security breakdown ultimately lies with the Secret Service, but claimed he never received communication that there was a suspicious person with bad intentions.
Beaver County Emergency Services Unit Commander Patrick Young and District Attorney Nathan Bible disputed accusations against local officers, with Young stating that there were two snipers inside the AGR building during the rally. One of the snipers from Beaver County noticed the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, taking pictures of him because he looked suspicious, but there was no indication he was a threat. Young explained that the snipers’ assignments for the day were clearly defined by Butler County ESU, with what he assumed was approval from the Secret Service. Despite efforts by the snipers to monitor Crooks’ suspicious behavior, shots were still fired, leading to the confrontation.
Young recounted the events leading up to the shots being fired, including the snipers’ observations of Crooks with a rangefinder, the decision to communicate through the “sniper text group,” and the interaction with patrol when the suspicious person was seen. Additionally, the window from where the snipers were stationed did not provide a clear view of the roof where Crooks was located without compromising their position. District Attorney Bible defended the snipers, stating that their task was to observe the crowd, not the exterior area, where the roof was located. He also mentioned that if the Secret Service had instructed them to station snipers on the roof, they would have complied with the request.
Despite the confusion and disagreement between local law enforcement and federal officials regarding the handling of the Trump assassination attempt, both Young and Bible expressed pride in their team’s response to the situation. They emphasized the skill and dedication of their officers and the thoroughness of their response to the threat posed by Crooks. Moreover, they indicated that their team was not seeking credit but was displeased with the portrayal of the events by federal officials. Both officials expressed confidence in their team’s ability to respond effectively if faced with a similar situation in the future, highlighting their commitment to public safety and maintaining security during high-profile events.
