By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) - A shouting match erupted Tuesday between Sen. Josh Hawley and Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe during a hearing on the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
In a heated exchange during a joint hearing by the Senate Judiciary and Governmental Affairs committees on the July 13 assassination attempt, Hawley criticized Rowe for not firing those involved in security decisions.
Rowe said the investigations remain ongoing "into the failures" on that day and stated loudly that he would "not rush to judgment."
"People will be held accountable,” said Rowe.
Later, the senator asked: “Is it not prima fascia that somebody has failed? The former president was shot.”
“Sir, this could have been our Texas School Book Depository,” Rowe responded. “I have lost sleep over that for the last 17 days, just like you have.”
“Then fire somebody,” Hawley responded.
Rowe reiterated that he would not rush to judgment and unfairly persecute individuals, adding that there must be a proper investigation into the assassination.
Another heated exchange came from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, regarding the number of agents protecting Trump, asking why the former president does not get the same number of agents as President Joe Biden.
"There is a difference between the sitting President of the United States,” Rowe responded.
“Then what’s the difference,” shouted Cruz.
“The difference, national command authority to launch a nuclear strike, sir,” Rowe said in response. “There are other assets that travel with the president that the former president will not get.”
Cruz later accused the agency of making a "political decision" by denying requests or inquiring about the security the former president is receiving.
Rowe denied the claim, saying: "What I will tell you is that Secret Service agents are not political."
Thomas Matthew Crooks, a lone 20-year-old gunman, opened fire on Trump during a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania striking him in his right ear.
The gunman killed one spectator and seriously injured two others.
Crooks was killed at the scene.