Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) engaged in a shouting match that persisted over gavel banging, as Rowe accused the lawmaker of politicizing the 9/11 attacks.
The Republican hit a nerve with Rowe when he began asking about security planning ahead of a 9/11 memorial held at ground zero on Sept. 11 of this year.
Fallon, holding a picture of President Biden and President-elect Trump at the event, asked about Rowe’s appearance in the photo behind both men, suggesting that by being there, he had bumped some members of the protective detail.
Rowe responded that Fallon’s photo cropped out the members of the protective team there to secure the event.
The Secret Service also later clarified Rowe was invited to attend the event.
“That is the day where we remember the more than 3,000 people that died on 9/11. I actually responded to ground zero. I was there, going through the ashes of the World Trade Center,” he said, telling Fallon he was at the memorial to “show respect” for a Secret Service agent who died in the attack.