Secret Service Director Urged to Resign Following Trump Assassination Attempt
Bipartisan calls for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down arise after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, leading to a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing.
In the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. The demand came during and after a tense House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday that scrutinized the agency's security measures ahead of a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting occurred.
The assassination attempt resulted in one fatality and three injuries, including Trump. The hearing, which lasted nearly six hours, saw lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressing frustration and disbelief at the Secret Service's handling of the situation. Committee members questioned how suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to access a nearby rooftop and why Trump was allowed to take the stage despite prior reports of a suspicious person.
After the hearing, the committee's leading Republican and Democrat, James Comer and Jamie Raskin, sent a letter to Ms. Cheatle urging her to step down. The letter emphasized the need for "serious institutional accountability and transparency" during a presidential election.
In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing," the letter states. "We call on you to resign as Director as a first step to allowing new leadership to swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people."
Ms. Cheatle accepted responsibility for the security lapses and acknowledged the incident as "the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades," but many lawmakers were left unsatisfied. She insisted she remained the best person to lead the agency, despite the calls for her resignation.
During the hearing, Ms. Cheatle often cited the ongoing investigation as the reason for her limited responses, which only fueled lawmakers' frustration. "The American people have questions, [and] they deserve answers," Oversight Committee Chairman Comer said. "You were required to provide answers and, ma'am, you did not."
The hearing grew increasingly heated, with lawmakers using expletives, shouting at Ms. Cheatle, and questioning her honesty and competence. "I'm disgusted by your performance," Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna declared. Ohio Republican Jim Jordan criticized Ms. Cheatle for her evasiveness, and South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace used strong language in response to what she considered dishonest answers.
Ms. Cheatle revealed that no Secret Service officers or employees have been disciplined for the Butler incident and promised a preliminary report within 60 days, a timeline committee members found unacceptable.
New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the urgency of the situation, especially during an election season. "This is not theatre, this is not about jockeying, this is about the safety of some of the most highly targeted and valued targets internationally and domestically," she said.
Despite the general consensus on Ms. Cheatle's future, some committee members diverged on other issues. Some Republicans, including Colorado's Lauren Boebert and Florida's Anna Paulina Luna, raised concerns about Ms. Cheatle's suitability for the role, with some alluding to online conspiracy theories.
Several eyewitnesses to the Butler shooting expressed frustration with Ms. Cheatle's responses. Jean Vincent, a Butler resident, criticized her for failing to take responsibility. Former US Marine Teresa Wilson also called for her resignation, deeming her answers too evasive.
As the investigation continues, the pressure mounts on Ms. Cheatle to address the security failures and regain public trust.
Tags: Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, Donald Trump, House Oversight Committee, Butler Pennsylvania, assassination attempt, James Comer, Jamie Raskin
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