US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle admitted to Congress on Monday that the agency experienced a significant operational failure when a would-be assassin wounded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. Cheatle, taking full responsibility, described the incident as the most notable failure of the Secret Service in decades.
Facing criticism and calls for her resignation from Republicans, Cheatle defended the agency, stating that security for Trump had been increased well before the incident due to evolving threats. She emphasized that the Secret Service's mission is apolitical and focused on life-and-death matters.
The congressional hearing marked the beginning of oversight on the attempted assassination. FBI Director Christopher Wray was scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, and House Speaker Mike Johnson planned to introduce a bipartisan task force to coordinate House investigations.
Despite calls for her resignation from top Republicans like Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Cheatle resisted stepping down. Republican House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer insisted she should resign, criticizing the Secret Service as incompetent despite its significant budget and workforce.
Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly highlighted the incident as indicative of the nation's heightened political tensions. The shooting at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, resulted in Trump being wounded in the ear, one attendee being killed, and another injured. The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was killed by law enforcement, and his motive remains unclear.
Lawmakers were particularly upset that the suspect managed to get within range of Trump from a nearby rooftop due to what they described as security lapses. The House Judiciary Committee noted that the Secret Service might have been under-resourced for Trump’s rally because of staffing shortages caused by a rival event with Jill Biden in Pittsburgh and a NATO summit in Washington.
Cheatle informed lawmakers that the Secret Service is responsible for protecting 36 individuals daily, including world leaders visiting the US, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was scheduled to address Congress that week.
In related news, President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid on Sunday and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, committing to serve through the end of his term on January 20, 2025.
