In an expected move, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sean Curran, who led his security detail for four years, to lead the Secret Service.
"It is my great honor to appoint Sean Curran as the next Director of the United States Secret Service," Trump posted Wednesday night on Truth Social. "Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service."
Curran was among the Secret Service agents who sprung to cover Trump after he was struck by a bullet from a would-be assassin at a campaign rally July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The agency faced mounting criticism from Trump and lawmakers following that assassination attempt and another while he was golfing Sept. 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump was struck in the right ear by a bullet fired from Thomas Matthew Crooks in Pennsylvania but was not injured in the Florida attempt.
Among the criticisms of the agency was that local and federal law enforcement weren’t communicating effectively, and that the lapse allowed Crooks to climb to a rooftop about 130 yards away and open fire on Trump. A Secret Service sniper shot and killed Crooks. One spectator was killed, Cory Comperatore, and two others were injured by bullets fired from Crooks.
"Sean has 23 years of Law Enforcement experience, starting his career in Secret Service in 2001, as a Special Agent in the Newark Field Office, where he conducted protection, intelligence, investigations, recruitment, and logistics support for the district," Trump wrote. "During my First Term, Sean served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division, with direct oversight and responsibility of multiple protectees, and enhanced security plans for my residences."
Curran, whose position does not need Senate approval, will replace Ron Rowe, who has been acting director since July, when Kimberly Cheatle resigned amid the backlash to the agency’s breakdowns in preventing the Pennsylvania assassination attempt.
"Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World," Trump wrote. "He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before."