Mr. Rankin. Have you ever had a Secret Service agent indicted or a complaint filed against him, a criminal complaint, prior to this time?
Mr. Rowley. This is the first time I remember anything like this happening since I have been with the Secret Service.
Representative Ford. Mr. Rankin, I don't recall Chief Rowley saying precisely what the reprimands were specifically for these violations of the regulations in this one instance.
You spoke highly of their background, and you spoke very high in their praise. But I did not hear what reprimand, if any, had actually been lodged against them.
Mr. Rowley. There was no reprimand. You are talking about the current thing?
Representative Ford. I am talking about the Dallas trip.
Mr. Rowley. I stated in considering what would be an appropriate punishment at the time, I felt that these men, by their conduct, had no bearing on the assassination of the President in Dallas. That to institute formal punishment or disciplinary action would inevitably lead the public to conclude that they were responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy. I did not think in the light of history that they should be stigmatized with something like that, or their families or children. And, for that reason, I took the position that I did.
Representative Ford. So there was no official reprimand or disciplinary action?
Mr. Rowley. No, sir.
Mr. Rankin. Did you talk to the agents, to indicate and make it plain to them that this was a violation of the regulations?