Secret Service director touts changes as Congress presses him on Trump assassination attempt
All the signs Samantha Armytage's marriage to Richard Lavender was on the rocks as news of their split emerges READ MORE: Samantha Armytage splits from husband Richard Lavender on the eve of four-year wedding anniversary By KATE DENNETT FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 21:26 GMT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 21:51 GMT, 5 December 2024 e-mail View comments News of Samantha Armytage 's split from her husband Richard Lavender emerged this week, but there were signs pointing to their separation. The TV presenter, 48, and the equestrian businessman, 61, have gone their separate ways on the eve of their four-year wedding anniversary. The couple tied the knot at his 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands in NSW on New Year's Eve in 2020. A source revealed news of their split exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, with Samantha then confirming that they had 'amicably' gone their separate ways. However, there were signs pointing towards trouble in Samantha's marriage in the weeks before the news became public as she was last photographed with Richard over three months ago. The couple were last sighted together on September 5, when they arrived back at Sydney Airport following a trip to Noosa together. News of Samantha Armytage 's split from her husband Richard Lavender emerged this week, but there were signs pointing to their separation They both flashed big smiles as they appeared to be in good spirits after the trip, which had been to celebrate Samantha's 48th birthday. However, their jovial outing was to become the last time they were publicly photographed together after their marriage hit the rocks. Samantha has instead made a string of solo appearances in recent weeks, including at the 2024 Melbourne Cup, despite Richard working in the equestrian business. The former Farmer Wants a Wife host made a very glamorous appearance at Flemington Racecourse's world-famous Birdcage, but posed for photographs without her husband. Stepping out on Melbourne Cup Day, Samantha cut an elegant figure in a vibrant red gown as she worked the angles for the camera during the solo outing. It is not known if Richard was in attendance at the races, but Samantha was notably seen stepping out by herself as she mixed with the stars at the glitzy event. While the couple do not normally walk red carpets together, Richard's involvement in the equestrian business sparked speculation they would attend the races as a couple. The pair have previously made very rare public appearances together at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse, stepping out holding hands at the races back in 2021. The couple were last sighted together on September 5, when they arrived back at Sydney Airport following a trip to Noosa together (pictured) Samantha also made some cryptic comments about everything in her life 'changing' in recent weeks, following her departure from Channel Seven and amid her marriage split. Before news of their separation emerged, Samantha penned a candid column for Stellar in which she referenced the many changes in her life she was dealing with. 'All of a sudden, everything is changing: hair colour, waistlines, sleep patterns, pelvic floors, skin texture, friends, colleagues, houses, jargon, clothing styles,' she wrote. Though she was talking about her career change in moving from Seven to Channel Nine, Samantha went on to speak about 'loving' and 'losing' in a poignant segment. 'I’ve loved and lost. I’ve laughed and cried,' she penned. 'I’m stronger, yet more vulnerable. I have learnt discernment, acceptance and patience (to a degree).' Samantha concluded her column by revealing she is happy with the person she has become and looked ahead with excitement to her 'new adventures'. Amid the huge period of change in her life, Samantha has seemingly been looking for a new companion in recent weeks as she hinted that she was looking for another dog. Samantha has since made a string of solo appearances in recent weeks, including at the 2024 Melbourne Cup, despite Richard working in the equestrian business The couple have previously made very rare public appearances together at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse, stepping out holding hands at the races back in 2021 (pictured) The former Sunrise host tragically lost her faithful four-legged companion Banjo in February after he was bitten by a snake. But she appeared to be on the lookout for another dog after spending an afternoon at a Guide Dogs NSW pop-up shop in Paddington, Sydney, with her sister Georgina. One photograph showed Samantha, beaming broadly as she rested her head on one adorable pooch, called Ginger, as Georgina cuddled the dog tightly. However, it appeared that Georgina was the one who was keen to take Ginger home, with Samantha captioning the image: 'Georgie Armytage, home!' A second image showed Georgina clearly bonding with the adorable pooch, holding the dog tight as she smiled blissfully with her eyes closed. Samantha's social media pages have also signalled towards her split as she is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard's two daughters, Sascha and Grace. However, she is still followed by her now-ex-partner Richard on the platform after she insisted their separation was 'amicable'. Samantha also pulled her beautiful home on the NSW south coast off the market just hours before her and Richard's split made headlines. Samantha has seemingly been looking for a new companion as she hinted that she was looking for another dog while spending the day with her sister Georgina at a Guide Dogs pop-up Samantha also pulled her beautiful beachfront home on the NSW south coast off the market just hours before her and Richard's split made headlines The three-bedroom, two-bedroom beachfront property had been languishing unsold since last December. Samantha slashed the original $3million asking price on the Hyams Beach property in September and relisted it with a $2.5million-$3million guide. But on Thursday morning, the Illawarra Mercury reported that the house had been dropped from the agent's listing and was no longer for sale. Though news of Samantha's split from Richard emerged this week, it is understood that her television presenter friends have been comforting her behind the scenes for some time. The couple's separation was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper on Friday but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance. 'Yes Richard and I have separated. All break-ups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other,' Samantha then told media late Thursday evening. 'I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won’t be making any further comment.' It's understood she has moved out of Richard's sprawling Southern Highlands home and is now living in an apartment located in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Though news of Samantha's split from Richard emerged this week, it is understood that her television presenter friends have been comforting her behind the scenes for some time The couple first started dating in April 2019, and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later. The intimate ceremony only featured a small number of guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Richard's daughters believed to have attended. Amid her marriage breakdown, Samantha has also undergone a huge career change after stepping down from Channel Seven after 21 years with the network. Describing the departure as 'sad and bittersweet,' she said she felt her time had come to an end. 'I'm big on instinct. I listen to my instinct. I know when the time comes. I am proud of the fact that I back myself enough to say: 'I've done what I can do here' and I move on,' she said. 'This is not the end. It's just the end of this chapter.' She has instead moved to rival network Nine and been signed up as the host of brand new reality dating show The Golden Bachelor . The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of The Bachelor series, but differs in that the contestants of the reality dating show are singletons in their 50s and 60s. 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GPU as a Service Market: From $5B in 2022 to $60.83B by 2031 12-05-2024 09:52 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: SkyQuest Technology GPU As a Service Market Scope: Key Insights : GPU as a Service Market size was valued at USD 5 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 6,60 billion in 2023 to USD 60.83 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 32% in the forecast period (2024-2031). Discover Your Competitive Edge with a Free Sample Report : https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/gpu-as-a-service-market Access the full 2024 Market report for a comprehensive understanding @ https://www.skyquestt.com/report/gpu-as-a-service-market In-Depth Exploration of the global GPU As a Service Market: This report offers a thorough exploration of the global GPU As a Service market, presenting a wealth of data that has been meticulously researched and analyzed. It identifies and examines the crucial market drivers, including pricing strategies, competitive landscapes, market dynamics, and regional growth trends. By outlining how these factors impact overall market performance, the report provides invaluable insights for stakeholders looking to navigate this complex terrain. Additionally, it features comprehensive profiles of leading market players, detailing essential metrics such as production capabilities, revenue streams, market value, volume, market share, and anticipated growth rates. This report serves as a vital resource for businesses seeking to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving market. Trends and Insights Leading to Growth Opportunities The best insights for investment decisions stem from understanding major market trends, which simplify the decision-making process for potential investors. The research strives to discover multiple growth opportunities that readers can evaluate and potentially capitalize on, armed with all relevant data. Through a comprehensive assessment of important growth factors, including pricing, production, profit margins, and the value chain, market growth can be more accurately forecast for the upcoming years. Top Firms Evaluated in the Global GPU As a Service Market Research Report: NVIDIA (US) Amazon Web Services (US) Microsoft (US) Google Cloud (US) IBM (US) Alibaba Cloud (China) Tencent Cloud (China) Baidu (China) ATOS (France) Key Aspects of the Report: Market Summary: The report includes an overview of products/services, emphasizing the global GPU As a Service market's overall size. It provides a summary of the segmentation analysis, focusing on product/service types, applications, and regional categories, along with revenue and sales forecasts. Competitive Analysis: This segment presents information on market trends and conditions, analyzing various manufacturers. It includes data regarding average prices, as well as revenue and sales distributions for individual players in the market. Business Profiles: This chapter provides a thorough examination of the financial and strategic data for leading players in the global GPU As a Service market, covering product/service descriptions, portfolios, geographic reach, and revenue divisions. Sales Analysis by Region: This section provides data on market performance, detailing revenue, sales, and market share across regions. It also includes projections for sales growth rates and pricing strategies for each regional market, such as: North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia South America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc. Middle East and Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa This in-depth research study has the capability to tackle a range of significant questions that are pivotal for understanding the market dynamics, and it specifically aims to answer the following key inquiries: How big could the global GPU As a Service market become by the end of the forecast period? Let's explore the exciting possibilities! Will the current market leader in the global GPU As a Service segment continue to hold its ground, or is change on the horizon? Which regions are poised to experience the most explosive growth in the GPU As a Service market? Discover where the future opportunities lie! Is there a particular player that stands out as the dominant force in the global GPU As a Service market? Let's find out who's leading the charge! What are the key factors driving growth and the challenges holding back the global GPU As a Service market? Join us as we uncover the forces at play! To establish the important thing traits, Ask Our Experts @ https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/gpu-as-a-service-market Table of Contents Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Medical Computer Cart Industry Impact Chapter 2 Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Market (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Market (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Worldwide Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Medical Computer Cart Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2023-2023) Chapter 5 North America Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Market Analysis Chapter 13 Latin America Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Medical Computer Cart Business Chapter 15 Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. This release was published on openPR.Iconoclast: Pelosi’s Jan. 6 Narrative Collapsing Jan. 6 was not “an insurrection,” but “a protest that became a riot when a woefully insufficient security plan collapsed,” argues Jonathan Turley at The Hill . Nancy Pelosi’s “House Select Committee to investigate Jan. 6” pushed the narrative that it “ was an attempt to overthrow our democracy by Trump and his supporters,” but “fostered false accounts” and dismissed evidence that “confirmed that Trump did, in fact, offer the deployment of the National Guard in anticipation of the protest.” Now a new report “shows that it was the Defense Department that delayed the eventual deployment of National Guard in the critical hours of the riot.” “None of this means that Trump” is “without fault in this matter,” but “these reports only further highlight what we still do not know about that day.” From the right: Democrats Deaf to Voters “The first step to any recovery is admitting you have a problem,” argues The Wall Street Journal’s Allysia Finley . Yet Democrats “won’t admit that their policies are the cause.” From his “bubble,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom “ordered a special legislative session to ’Trump-proof’ California’s progressive policies, such as its electric-vehicles mandate.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul “revived a $9 tax on commuters driving into lower Manhattan” days after Trump’s win. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “is seeking to raise taxes on homeowners” to “pay the city’s soaring pension bills.” Those “high taxes are driving off businesses and residents.” Democrats may “recognize their political problem but their solution is to pour another shot.” Culture critic: Dems’ Disconnect on Trans Debate “In a parallel universe,” snarks The Free Press’ Peter Savodnik , “progressives would be rallying around” Rep. Seth Moulton for expressing fear that trans athletes could injure his daughters in sports. Yet “in this universe,” they “hate him.” Progressives “have called him a ‘Nazi cooperator,’ ‘transphobic,’ and ‘offensive,’ ” and demanded he resign. Tuft University’s poli-sci chairman threatened to bar students from interning in his office. Moulton just sees the “disconnect between the party’s activist base and the tens of millions of voters it counts on to win national elections,” blasting those who won’t “even tolerate debate on such issues.” “The only way forward now, Moulton said, is for the Democratic Party to reclaim its liberal soul — its appetite for arguments.” Science desk: Rx for Real Science at FDA “Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins University to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration,” notes Public’s Alex Gutentag . Makary has a “track record of standing up to the pharmaceutical industry” on opioids and other issues and was “right on key issues” during COVID, like community masking and vaccine mandates — where authorities’ errors “severely harmed trust in public health institutions.” In office, “Makary must work to depoliticize the FDA” and ensure it’s “focused on science, high-quality evidence, and thorough safety monitoring” and to end the “conflicts of interest” that are “not the exception at the FDA” but the rule, where a revolving door between the agency and big pharma operates. Only then will the FDA “function like a real regulator again.” Defense beat: NATO Unready for ‘Hybrid War’ “Russia’s hybrid-warfare model — the integration of numerous non-military means of conflict and proxy wars, backed by the threat of military force, to achieve strategic goals” — poses a huge challenge to NATO, which is organized “to deter against an invasion or nuclear attack on Europe,” warns Patrick Hess at UnHerd . Since the Ukraine war began, Moscow has employed an “escalating string” of “low-threshold, non-military and plausibly deniable tactics” against European countries. These include “sabotage and arson, GPS-signal jamming, disinformation campaigns, weaponised people-smuggling, and phone-hacking,” all “deployed to disrupt, confuse, and blur the lines between peace and wartime.” “As Europe prepares to take primary responsibility for its own security, this new order must include a coherent strategy to deal with Moscow’s hybrid threats, including how and when to respond.” — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
Topline Elon Musk said Thursday he supports eliminating a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle buyers, reiterating a position he expressed in July that could help Tesla—as Trump’s transition team is reportedly mulling the prospect despite pushback from most in the auto industry. Key Facts Chief Critic The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents all major global automakers, but not Tesla, urged Congress in an October letter to keep the tax credit in place, citing concerns about increased competition from Chinese manufacturers, CNN reported. The group also wrote a letter in November to Trump’s transition team urging his administration to keep the tax credit in place, Reuters reported . Key Background Musk made the comment while he was on Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with lawmakers about plans for the Department of Government Efficiency, a newly created advisory board Trump tapped him and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead to cut government spending. The EV tax credit applies to the purchase of new electric vehicles and was implemented as part of Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, which also provides a tax credit of up to $4,000 for used EV purchases. The Biden administration reported in July the tax credit has contributed to a 20% dip in prices for EVs compared to a year prior. The administration also issued new regulations in March aiming to increase the share of EVs sold in the U.S. from 7.6% of all car sales to 56%, designed to further Biden’s push to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. Tangent California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans last month to reinstate a $7,500 state tax credit for EV buyers if Trump eliminates the federal one, though the plan could omit Tesla, Bloomberg and The New York Times reported. Musk reacted to the Bloomberg report by calling the proposal “insane” in a social media post. Further Reading ‘This Is Insane’: Musk Blasts California For Possibly Icing Tesla From EV Credit Program (Forbes) Tesla Stock Rises 6%: What We Know About Trump’s Impact On Musk’s EV Giant (Forbes)Plane burst into flames after skidding off runway at an airport in South Korea, killing at least 28The crash happened at 10.45am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach fire rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Mr Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 – giving the railroad the worst death rate in the United States. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.Rock the Ugly Sweater Party With These Horrible Options
WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting director of the Secret Service said Thursday that the agency is “reorganizing and reimagining” its culture and how it operates following an assassination attempt against Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Members of a bipartisan House task force investigating the attempt on Trump's life pushed Ronald Rowe on how the agency’s staffers could have missed such blatant security vulnerabilities leading up to the July 13 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At one point, the hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rowe and a Republican congressman. Rowe promised accountability for what he called the agency’s “abject failure” to secure the rally in Butler, where a gunman opened fire from a nearby building. Trump was wounded in the ear, one rallygoer was killed and two others were wounded. Another assassination attempt two months later contributed to the agency’s troubles. That gunman waited for hours for Trump to appear at his golf course in Florida, but a Secret Service agent thwarted the attack by spotting the firearm poking through bushes. The task force has been investigating both attempts, but it was the July shooting that dominated Thursday’s hearing. Its inquiry is one of a series of investigations and reports that have faulted the agency for planning and communications failures. The agency’s previous director resigned, and the Secret Service increased protections for Trump before the Republican won the November election. Rowe was repeatedly asked by flabbergasted lawmakers how problems so obvious in hindsight were allowed to happen. Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, said it was “just wild to me” that at a time of tech advances, the Secret Service was using text messages and emails to communicate in real time about threats. He also asked Rowe why so many things went wrong that day “yet nobody said anything.” Rowe said the agency used to have a culture where people felt comfortable speaking up. “I don’t know where we lost that,” he said. “We have to get back to that.” Rowe said the agency is putting a much stronger emphasis on training — something previous investigations found was lacking — and on doing more regular reviews of events to see what went right and where improvements can be made. “We are reorganizing and reimaging this organization," Rowe told lawmakers. He said the agency needs to identify possible leaders much earlier in their careers instead of just promoting people to command positions because they have been around a long time. The hearing was largely cordial, with members of Congress stressing the bipartisan nature of their work and praising Rowe for cooperating with their investigation even as they pushed him for explanations. But at one point, Rowe and Rep. Pat Fallon, a Texas Republican, faced off — shouting over each other as other members pleaded for order. Fallon pulled out a photo of President Joe Biden, Trump and others at this year's Sept. 11 ceremony in New York and asked Rowe why he was at the event, suggesting it was to burnish his prospects at getting the director job permanently. Trump has not yet named his pick to lead the agency. “I was there to show respect for a Secret Service member that died on 9/11. Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes!” Rowe shouted. “You wanted to be visible because you were auditioning for this job that you’re not going to get!” Fallon later shot back. Rowe roared back: "You are out of line, Congressman. You are out of line!” “You're a bully,” Fallon said. This was the task force’s second public hearing and the first time that Rowe has addressed its members in public. The panel has until Dec. 13 to release its final report. Rep. Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican, said the agency’s conduct during the July shooting seemed almost “lackadaisical.” He said some of the issues that went wrong that day were ”really basic things.” “It speaks of an apathy or a complacency that is really unacceptable in an organization like the Secret Service,” Green said. The task force conducted 46 transcribed interviews, attended over a dozen briefings and reviewed over 20,000 documents. Members also visited the site of both assassination attempts and went to the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, to look at evidence. Rowe said Thursday that the agency's internal investigation , whose findings were released last month, identified failures by multiple employees. He noted that the quality of the advance work — the people who scope out event locations ahead of time — did not meet agency standards. He vowed accountability for those who fell down on the job. Many of the investigations have centered on why buildings near the rally with a clear line of sight to the stage where Trump was speaking were not secured in advance. The gunman, Thomas Crooks, climbed onto the roof of one of them and opened fire before being killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper. Rowe pointed to the failure to protect the building as the most glaring oversight that day. He also was asked about the morale of agents and new hires. Rowe said applications are actually up this year — the agency made a net gain of about 200 agents during the past fiscal year, meaning both new agents were hired and veteran agents retained.
Mid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers