Nuclear Meltdown in the Speaker's Lobby

A bipartisan panel of 13 House members gathered around a microphone in the Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday afternoon to discuss the assassination attempt on President-elect Trump and ways to improve security at the Secret Service.

"According to Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., the top Democrat on the task force, the tone was set to convey that the effort was serious and bipartisan. As a result, the outcome was as expected, with the effort being taken seriously and played out in a bipartisan manner."

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Penn., who chaired the effort, declared that we never identified as Republicans or Democrats, but have identified as task force members.

The committee agreed that the Secret Service had failed its mission in Butler, Penn., when gunman Thomas Crooks nearly killed Mr. Trump. They are pleased with some reforms at the Secret Service, including increased use of drones, automated robot "dogs" on the property of the incoming President's golf club in Florida, and enhanced communication with local law enforcement.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed frustration over not being able to examine Crooks' body and determine a motive or establish whether he acted alone.

Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., who served on the committee, lamented that the Department of Justice had not provided the task force with information about the digital devices.

"To this day, it remains a black hole," I inquired.

"Correct," replied Lee.

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe was the lone witness at the hearing.

Although he stated that accountability would be enforced, he failed to provide specific instances of punishment.

"Rowe acknowledged the importance of recognizing the severity of their failure at the hearing. He personally felt the weight of knowing that they almost lost a protectee. He has thoroughly reflected on the agency's poor performance during the advance for the Butler rally."

No one will remember that the committee was a significant example of bipartisanship in Congress.

A thermonuclear conflict occurred between Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Tex., and Rowe.

I have witnessed numerous heated moments in Congress over the years, including Rep. Bob Walker, R-Penn., slamming the gavel down so angrily that the head broke off and spiraled into the well of the chamber. I have also seen a near fist-fight between lawmakers early in the morning of January 7, 2021, hours after the Capitol riot. Additionally, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., challenged Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to a fight during a hearing last year. Furthermore, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., chased former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., through the halls on the same day, with Burchett claiming that McCarthy elbowed him in the kidneys.

I have never seen a verbal confrontation between a politician and a witness as intense as the Fallon-Rowe debate.

Both men erupted in fury, shouting at each other and pointing their index fingers.

If the accounts are accurate, then the two "sparred," making Ali versus Frazier an afternoon tea at the Willard.

""Congressman, you are out of line!" thundered Rowe."

""I won't tolerate bullying!" Fallon stated firmly."

""I was there out of respect, not for political purposes!" yelled Rowe."

"You put agents out of position and endangered the lives of President Biden and Vice President Harris," Fallon retorted, exclaiming, "That's a bunch of horse hockey!"

The Secret Service and after-action reviews were overshadowed by the main event, and little else would be remembered.

Here’s some context on what lit the fuse to his melee:

Fallon displayed a photo of President Biden, Vice President Harris, President-elect Trump, President-elect JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Sen. Rowe standing at Ground Zero on 9/11 this year. Fallon highlighted Rowe in the picture with a red circle.

Rowe was questioned by Fallon about whether he was the "SAC" that day, which led to the situation spiraling out of control.

Rowe stated, "Congressman, what you're not seeing is the SAC of the detail out of the picture's view."

His voice then grew gravelly with just a splice of disdain.

"Rowe, with a rising verbal timbre, stated, "That day, we commemorate the more than 3,000 individuals who perished on 9/11. I personally responded to Ground Zero and was present at Fresh Kills (Landfall in New York), going through the ashes of the World Trade Center.""

That’s when Fallon sneered at Rowe.

"You're not the Special Agent in Charge, are you?" Fallon shouted.

"I was there to show respect!" countered Rowe.

"You were not!" shot back Fallon.

Rowe was not acting as a true protective agent that day, according to Fallon. He claimed that Rowe pushed other agents aside for political reasons, putting the lives of protectees at risk.

"You were there because you wanted to be seen, but you won't get the job," said Fallon.

He suggested that Rowe wanted the "acting" removed from his title.

No, I did not have a radio, wear a vest, or carry a weapon, said Fallon.

"I did, sir!" growled Rowe.

Before the hearing, I inquired if Rowe desired to be the permanent Secret Service Director, but he remained silent.

Rowe's positioning claims that the lives of President Biden and Vice President Harris were at risk. Fallon suggested that the lessons from the Butler, PA, assassination attempt have not been fully implemented.

Rowe's positioning at the event was a "vanity project," according to Fallon after the hearing.

I questioned Fallon about whether the verbal disagreement would "interrupt the bipartisanship."

"That wasn’t the intent," Fallon replied.

Fallon pinned the blame on Rowe, saying "he started screaming."

Before reporters could ask for his comment on the chaos, Rowe exited the Capitol complex.

Did Fallon expect anything else after the clash?

"If I have a bag of heroin in my car or am found dead with a rope around my neck, it will be clear why," Fallon stated.

The Trump assassination attempt is already radioactive, and the most volatile quarrel in the history of Congressional hearings will be remembered, despite the committee's attempts to focus on failures and what went wrong.