Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe recently addressed members of Congress regarding the issue of a counter-drone system not being deployed at a rally earlier in the day due to connectivity problems. Rowe explained that the delay in deploying the system was a result of connectivity challenges on that particular day.
During the incident, Thomas Matthew Crooks flew a drone around the area two hours before President Trump was scheduled to speak. Rowe expressed his concerns about the missed opportunity, stating that the connectivity issue had caused him significant distress, as the system could have potentially located and stopped Crooks if it had been operational.
Rowe emphasized the potential consequences of not having the counter-drone system in place, highlighting the missed opportunity to intervene before any potential threats could materialize. He mentioned that law enforcement might have been able to detect Crooks' drone usage earlier and prevent any security breaches if the system had been active.
Looking ahead, Rowe announced that the Secret Service would collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to establish a private connection for their counter-drone system, aiming to avoid reliance on public domain connections in the future.
