The acting Secret Service director told senators on Tuesday that the agency failed on July 13 by not having a countersniper focused on the roof where a would-be assassin fired eight shots at former President Donald J. Trump, injuring him and others and killing a rally attendee.
While Ronald L. Rowe Jr., the acting director, provided a more complete account of what happened that day than his predecessor did a week ago, he failed to answer a critical question about that day: Who was supposed to be watching that roof?
In one of his first actions as acting director, Mr. Rowe said he went to the site of the shooting in Butler, Pa., and specifically to the warehouse roof that the gunman used, which had been unmanned and apparently unwatched.
Mr. Rowe said he climbed onto the building and lay on the roof so he could see the direct line that the shooter, later identified as Thomas Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., had to Mr. Trump.
Persons:
Donald J, Trump, Ronald L, Rowe Jr, Rowe, Thomas Crooks
Locations:
Butler, Pa, Bethel Park