Acting Director Defends Security Measures Amid Scrutiny
The U.S. Secret Service is facing renewed scrutiny following the revelation that officials did not search the perimeter of Donald Trump’s Florida golf estate, where a suspected would-be assassin was lurking for hours. According to federal prosecutors, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, set up a sniper’s nest just outside the outer perimeter of Donald Trump International West Palm Beach and remained there for approximately 12 hours before being apprehended.
Off-the-record visit leads to gaps in security
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. explained that the agency’s security measures were adjusted because Donald Trump’s visit to the estate was part of an “off-the-record” plan. “The president wasn’t even really supposed to go there. It was not on his official schedule,” Rowe stated, defending the decision not to conduct a thorough perimeter search.
Despite the absence of a detailed inspection, Rowe stood by the agency’s security protocol, claiming it was effective. “We put together a security plan — and that security plan worked,” he added, without elaborating on whether the off-the-record nature of the visit limited the agents’ ability to secure the area.
Foiled plot and arrest of the suspect
Routh, armed with an AK-style rifle, was eventually spotted by Secret Service agents after the barrel of his weapon was seen poking through the foliage surrounding the golf course. Agents opened fire on the suspect before he could act, forcing Routh to abandon his rifle, two backpacks, and a GoPro camera, and flee the scene in an SUV.
Authorities apprehended Routh about 40 minutes later on Interstate 95, bringing the incident to a close.
Secret Service faces intense scrutiny
This incident comes on the heels of another attempt on Donald Trump’s life in July at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which has placed the Secret Service under intense scrutiny. The agency’s handling of that earlier assassination attempt led to the resignation of former Director Kimberly Cheatle, with Ronald Rowe Jr. stepping in to lead the agency.
Rowe has been candid about the agency’s shortcomings in the July incident, telling Congress that he was “ashamed” of the security failures that took place. Now, as the Secret Service faces questions over this most recent incident, Rowe’s defense of the agency’s tactics is likely to come under further review.
The chilling nature of Routh’s alleged plan — combined with the agency’s acknowledgment of security gaps — raises critical questions about the Secret Service’s ability to protect high-profile figures, particularly during “off-the-record” visits that may limit their usual protocols.