Rowe [Secret Service press conference]: The Secret Service takes full responsibility for the tragic events, July 13th. This was a mission failure.

Rowe: We are in an unprecedented threat environment, and a high operational tempo during this presidential campaign.

Rowe: In no way should any state or local agency supporting us in Butler on July 14th, be held responsible for our Secret Service failure.

[that only adds further suspicion to those state and local agencies]

Rowe: At 6 pm, former President Trump took the stage to begin remarks. Based on what I know right now, neither the Secret Service counter sniper teams, nor members of the former president's security detail had any knowledge that there was a man on the roof of the AGR building with a firearm. It is my understanding that personnel were not aware the assailant had a firearm until they heard gunshots.

Rowe: We were not; we didn't have access to certain information, not by anybody's fault, it just so happened that there was a sense of urgency, that there might have been radio traffic that we missed. We have to do a better job of that.

Rowe: We did not have a drone on sight; we did not put a drone up. Based on the information I have right now, I am aware that there was a request from a local agency to offer to fly a drone on that day, and that is also part of the Mission Assurance Review that I've asked to get some better insight in.

Rowe: It was the first time [July 13th] Secret Service counter snipers were deployed to support the former president's detail.

Rowe: Seeing how close that site [AGR roof] was to the stage, seeing where it was, it definitely raised a lot of questions in my mind that there should have been physical presence, if not on the roof, that there should have been better security to prevent anyone from getting up on that roof.

[he had to physically visit the site to determine that?]

Rowe: This was the first time that Secret Service counter snipers; the former president at campaign rallies has actually been getting state and local resources. Tactical assets; counter snipers from state and locals.

Question: There's a a report that a whistleblower has alleged that you personally directed cuts to the counter surveillance division, which led to the threat assessments team failing to perform it's duties that it typically would before the Butler rally. Is that allegation accurate?

Rowe: I've recently become aware of this. We got a congressional letter on it…I know that there's been allegations that I personally cut, or that I denied requests; the counter surveillance division has been out there supporting the former president's detail at some very high-profile events.

Question: Is that a no, you didn't cut finding personally?

Rowe: I did not, no.

Question: Did you finally figure out how he got that gun on the roof? Did it fit in the backpack?

Rowe: We're working to determine that. That's something that the FBI is working on. I don't want to speculate as to exactly how he would have gotten it up there.

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