Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) had a shouting match during a hearing on Thursday before the House task force investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Rowe replaced former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle who stepped down after the attempted assassination.
The tense exchange began after Fallon presented Rowe with a photo from the 9/11 remembrance ceremony in New York City and suggested that Rowe was not properly protecting Trump during the event.
“Were you the Special Agent in Charge of the detail that day?” Fallon asked, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
Rowe explained that he was not a part of Trump’s protective detail that day since he attended the ceremony as a representative of the Secret Service.
“That is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that have died on 9/11,” Rowe said. “I actually responded to Ground Zero, I was there going through the ashes of the World Trade Center.”
“I’m not asking you that, I’m asking you if you were the Special Agent in Charge,” Fallon shouted.
“I was there to show respect for a Secret Service member that died! Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes, Congressman!” Rowe yelled back.
“Oh, I’m not!” Fallon countered
“You are, sir! You are out of line!” Rowe exclaimed. “You are out of line, Congressman!”
“Don’t try to bully me!” Fallon yelled.
At this point committee chairman Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) called for order, but Fallon kept yelling.
“I am an elected member of Congress and I’m trying to ask you a serious question,” he said
“I am a public servant who has served this nation on our day, on our country’s darkest day and you will not politicize it!” Rowe shot back.
