US top secret service official Tony Ornato, who became a figure of a lot of interest in the Congressional committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack resigned from the agency.
Ornato plunged into the center of sensation on January 6 as an eyewitness to some of majority critical incidents involving Donald Trump in in hours leading up to deadly to attack on US Capitol.
He started as head of Trump secret service details, but in unprecedented move in December 2019 became Deputy Chief of employees in White House.
In this capacity he was drawn to the sights of committee 6 January in his investigation of Trump role in inciting an uprising on the Capitol. BUT former White House Aide Cassidy Hutchinson in June testified publicly to the committee that Ornato told her Trump was “angry” when his security team refused to respond. drive him to the capitol like a storm on The Congress began.
attack aims to prevent congressional certification of Trump’s defeat to Joe Biden in presidential elections in 2020.
When his secret service driver insisted it was not safe to go, Trump lunged for steering wheel and then grabbed the agent by the throat, Hutchinson testified that Ornato told her. Ornato reportedly denied account through unnamed sources.
Hutchinson also told the committee that Ornato briefed senior White House aides on On January 6, weapons were carried among the crowd outside the Capitol, including guns, knives, and spears. Ornato does not deny this assertion.
On Monday, he confirmed that he had retired from the Secret Service. in statement that he wanted to work in in private sector. He has already was interviewed twice committee of January 6, although the content of his testimony was not made public.
Among the regions of The interest that the committee probably pursues is the knowledge of Ornato of how Trump Vice President Mike Pence was followed by Secret Service agents. on January 6. While armed rioters crowded the Capitol shouting “Hang Mike Pence!”, the Vice President’s security guards tried to convince him to evacuate the building. area.
“I do not receive in in car”Pence said. lead special agent, according to Philip Rooker and Carol Leonnig in their book “I alone can fix it”.
In the White House, Ornato, who as Deputy Chief of employees were supervised over Secret Service decisions said Pence national security adviser Keith Kellogg that the vice president is about to be transferred to Maryland. military Joint Base Andrews facility. If he were evacuated, Pence would no longer be able to confirm Biden’s election victory and Trump’s victory. goal of the reprieve of his defeat would have been fulfilled.
When Ornato said that the Secret Service move Pence, Kellogg was adamant, Rucker and Leonnig said. “You can’t do this, Tony,” Kellogg said. Leave him where he is now. He has a job. I know you guys too good. You will send it to Alaska if you have chance. Do not do that”.
