U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has faced bipartisan calls to resign following a security lapse that allowed an assailant to wound Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. This pressure comes from both the Republican chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee, James Comer, and the committee's top Democrat, Jamie Raskin. Despite their usual disagreements, both parties have expressed a lack of confidence in Cheatle's leadership.
During an intense hearing, Cheatle acknowledged the July 13 shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as a significant operational failure for the Secret Service, likening it to the 1981 attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Trump was injured in the ear, one attendee was killed, and another was injured in the incident. The shooter, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing home aide, was killed by law enforcement, with his motive still unclear.
Cheatle, however, firmly refused to step down, asserting that she was the best person to lead the Secret Service through this crisis. She emphasized that security for Trump had been increasing before the shooting and that the Secret Service had met the security requirements requested by Trump's campaign.
Despite this, Cheatle's refusal to provide detailed information about the security failures, potential threats, and the actions taken by the Secret Service frustrated lawmakers from both parties. They accused her of stonewalling and delaying accountability by citing ongoing investigations, including an internal probe expected to be completed in 60 days.
The hearing marked the beginning of congressional oversight on the attempted assassination, with FBI Director Christopher Wray set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee next. House Speaker Mike Johnson is also expected to announce a bipartisan task force to coordinate investigations.
Cheatle's lack of transparency and the 60-day delay in providing a full report on the incident has been criticized by lawmakers, including Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who emphasized the urgency given the high-threat environment in the U.S.
