US Representative Nancy Mace sharply criticized Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle during a House Oversight Committee hearing concerning the assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The hearing focused on the attack during Trump's Pennsylvania rally on July 13, which resulted in significant scrutiny of the Secret Service's actions and security measures.
Nancy Mace pressed Cheatle with a series of yes or no questions, highlighting five key points related to the incident. Cheatle acknowledged that the attack was a "colossal failure" and "preventable." Mace also questioned Cheatle about the premature media leak of her opening statement for the hearing, to which Cheatle responded, "No idea," prompting Mace to express her frustration with an expletive.
Throughout the hearing, Mace repeatedly accused Cheatle of dishonesty and lack of transparency, particularly regarding the federal agency's adherence to committee demands about the investigation into Trump's shooting. Cheatle's frequent response of needing to "get back to" the committee on various questions further fueled Mace's criticisms.
Mace concluded her grilling by moving a privileged motion to impeach Cheatle, emphasizing the historical nature of the action and the urgency of addressing the situation. The motion requires leadership to act on the resolution within two legislative days. Mace's strong stance was supported by a tweet and a video of her moving the motion, underscoring the seriousness of her accusations against Cheatle.
The hearing and Mace's aggressive questioning reflect the bipartisan frustration with the Secret Service's handling of the assassination attempt. Both the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, and top Democrat, Jamie Raskin, have called for Cheatle to resign, highlighting the widespread concern over security lapses and the agency's accountability. Despite the pressure, Cheatle has refused to step down.
