Tony Ornato: US Secret Service Assistant Director Retires
The senior Secret Service official who served as a top aide in Donald Trump's White House, Tony Ornato, announced his retirement on Monday.
Facts
- The senior Secret Service official who served as a top aide in Donald Trump's White House, Tony Ornato, announced his retirement on Monday.
- According to a statement, Ornato's exit was "long-planned," and he's leaving to "pursue a career in the private sector." He had been under intense investigation by the Jan. 6 committee, and his retirement potentially complicates an aspect of the panel's inquiry.
- Ornato was scheduled to appear before investigators from the Dept. of Homeland Security on Wed., and he indicated that he still intended to attend the interview. However, as a private citizen, investigators don't have testimonial subpoena authority to compel his cooperation.
- In a testimony given to lawmakers in June by Cassidy Hutchinson, the former assistant to Trump's final chief of staff Mark Meadows, Ornato is said to have described the former president as "irate" when Secret Service agents refused to take him to the US Capitol with his supporters.
- Hutchinson also testified that Ornato said the former president lunged at an agent and tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle he was in.
- Calls from both sides for Ornato to come forward and share his account were prompted by Hutchinson's testimony.
Sources: Politico, Vanity Fair, Intercept, Daily Mail, and FOX News.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Vanity Fair. Ornato's departure raises a variety of questions. It seems that the official is loyal to Trump, and clearly retired as a strategic move to complicate the Jan. 6 committee's investigation. The committee was already skeptical of his assertions during previous testimonies and now they have proof that he is trying to obstruct the investigation.
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. Ornato has served his country for 25 years and his retirement had been planned long before this announcement. He has already met with the committee twice before and has denied Hutchinson's allegations.
