A whistleblower has alleged that the Secret Service forced former President Donald Trump’s campaign to cancel a rally in Wisconsin due to insufficient security resources, and the claims were brought to light by Sen. Josh Hawley, who raised concerns about a potential double standard in the agency’s protection of presidential candidates.

The Secret Service allegedly denied the Trump campaign sufficient assets to secure an event in Wisconsin, while Vice President Kamala Harris went on to hold a rally the same night, as the Washington Times reports.

The whistleblower's account, which was provided to Hawley's office, described how the Secret Service "effectively forced" Trump’s campaign to cancel the Wisconsin event.

Hawley sent a letter to Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe, questioning the denial of protection and calling it highly unusual for a presidential candidate to be refused security for a major public event.

Senator Raises Concerns of Double Standards

Hawley’s letter pointed out that other whistleblowers familiar with Secret Service procedures expressed concern over the situation. They noted that a sitting president or vice president would never be denied security resources in this manner. The Washington Times reported that both the Trump campaign and the Secret Service were contacted for comment.

Hawley stated that when he raised the issue with Rowe, the acting director did not flatly deny the allegations. Instead, Rowe reportedly mentioned that a smaller event could still occur in Wisconsin, though it would not be the large-scale rally the Trump campaign had planned.

Possible Security Threats Behind Decision

According to the whistleblower’s account, there was uncertainty over why the Secret Service resisted securing the event. Rowe was vague on whether the decision was influenced by threats against Trump from Iran. In a conversation with Hawley, Rowe expressed frustration over the impact of whistleblower allegations on the agency, stating that they were damaging to the Secret Service’s reputation.

Hawley argued that if these latest allegations are proven true, they would directly contradict Rowe's previous claims. In a press conference held earlier, Rowe had asserted that Trump was receiving the same level of protection as the sitting president.

Vice President Harris' Rally Proceeds Without Issue

The allegations gained further weight when it was revealed that, on the same night as the canceled Trump rally, Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign event in Madison, Wisconsin. The Secret Service reportedly secured this event without any issues, prompting Hawley to question the agency’s decision-making process. He specifically asked whether the Secret Service had ever refused to secure events for President Joe Biden or Vice President Harris.

These concerns led Hawley to highlight a potential discrepancy in how the Secret Service allocates resources for different political figures. He questioned if the agency had been transparent in its explanations for denying the Trump rally while allowing Harris’ event to proceed smoothly.

Ongoing Investigations into Assassination Attempts

In the midst of these allegations, the Secret Service has been conducting an internal investigation related to two assassination attempts on former President Trump. During a press conference, Rowe addressed these security threats and mentioned the challenges posed by certain event sites, including the Butler Farm Show grounds, which had been discussed as a potential location for Trump’s rally.

Rowe explained that while the campaign staff has final discretion over event sites, the Secret Service is responsible for securing those sites, regardless of the difficulties posed by the location. This raised further questions about why the Trump event was ultimately canceled.

Legislative Action Follows Allegations

Following the whistleblower's account, Hawley took action by releasing the details publicly after the Senate passed a bill that would require Secret Service protection for all presidential and vice-presidential candidates. This legislation had already passed the House and now awaits President Biden’s signature.

Rowe’s statements during his press conference added to the ongoing debate. He emphasized that the Secret Service works closely with campaign staff to secure sites, but ultimately, the agency holds responsibility for event security. Despite this, Hawley remained skeptical of the Secret Service's consistency in handling security for different candidates.

Conclusion: Allegations Continue to Raise Questions

The whistleblower's allegations have cast doubt on the Secret Service’s impartiality in securing campaign events.

While Trump’s rally was canceled due to a claimed lack of resources, Vice President Harris held her event without issue, prompting concerns of potential bias.

Sen. Josh Hawley has demanded answers from the agency, raising questions about whether the same level of protection is afforded to all presidential candidates.

As the internal probe into assassination attempts continues, the fallout from these allegations could shape future security protocols for political events.