Congress Calls for Secret Service Chief's Resignation After Trump Assassination Scare

Donald Trump

Secret service Chief's future in jeopardy after failed Trump assassination...

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faces bipartisan calls for resignation after a heated House Oversight Committee hearing on the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump, with lawmakers criticizing her evasive responses and lack of transparency.

Bipartisan lawmakers are demanding Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's resignation after the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The calls for her resignation intensified during and after a heated House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday, July 22.

Lawmakers scrutinized Cheatle over the Secret Service's security protocols leading up to the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the attempt on Trump's life occurred. The incident resulted in one death and injured three others, including the former president.

The July 22 hearing proved challenging for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, as lawmakers from both parties criticized her evasive responses and the agency's lack of transparency. However, the hearing also showcased a rare display of bipartisanship in a deeply divided Capitol Hill.

Committee members grilled Cheatle, seeking answers about the shooting, including how suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks gained access to a nearby rooftop and why Trump was allowed to continue on stage despite warnings of a suspicious individual in the area. The tough questioning reflected lawmakers' frustration with the agency's handling of the incident.

In a rare show of unity, Republican James Comer and Democrat Jamie Raskin, leaders of the House Oversight Committee, co-authored a letter to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following the tense hearing. The letter unequivocally called for her resignation.

Comer and Raskin's joint letter marked a significant bipartisan rebuke, emphasizing their shared belief that Cheatle's leadership had fallen short and that she should relinquish her position as Secret Service Director.

“Amidst a presidential election, the Committee and the American public demand genuine institutional accountability and transparency, which you have failed to provide," the letter asserts.

“We urge you to resign as Director to pave the way for new leadership to promptly address this crisis and restore the trust of a deeply concerned Congress and the American people.”

During the hearing, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle acknowledged the agency's security failures and conceded that the Butler incident was the most significant operational failure in decades. However, her evasive responses sparked frustration among lawmakers.

Despite mounting calls for her resignation, Cheatle defiantly maintained that she was still the best person to lead the Secret Service, citing her qualifications. She dodged direct answers to several questions, citing the ongoing investigation, which further fueled lawmakers' frustration and skepticism.

“The American people have questions, and they deserve answers,” remarked Oversight Committee Chairman Comer to Cheatle.

“You were expected to provide answers, ma'am, and you did not.”

The hearing on Monday frequently boiled over into heated exchanges, with lawmakers unleashing sharp rebukes, raised voices, and scathing criticism aimed at the director's credibility and capabilities.

“I'm appalled by your performance,” remarked Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna.

Lawmakers on the committee grew increasingly infuriated with Cheatle's responses, with some threatening to pursue her removal if she refused to step down voluntarily.

“Seems like you're avoiding some pretty basic questions,” remarked Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, a supporter of Trump.

“And it appears you took shortcuts in safeguarding one of the most globally recognized figures.”

As Cheatle testified, her comments drew audible expressions of discontent from some representatives, who groaned and murmured their disapproval in response to her answers.

A fiery exchange erupted when Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, unleashed a scathing rebuke, lashing out at Cheatle over the unauthorized release of her opening statement to the press, which had been leaked to US media outlets over the weekend.

“You're either being dishonest or evasive,” Mace asserted.

“You're just evading!” She later initiated a congressional motion to impeach Cheatle in order to remove her from her position.”

In a dramatic outburst, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, vociferously denounced Cheatle as a “complete failure,” her raised voice echoing through the hearing room.

“The entire nation is demanding your resignation,” Greene declared.

Cheatle revealed that, to date, no Secret Service personnel have been held accountable or faced disciplinary action for the security lapses in Butler. She pledged to release a preliminary report on the incident within 60 days, but committee members met this promise with skepticism, questioning the delay and expressing doubts about the agency's transparency.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, slammed the 60-day timeline for releasing the report as "unacceptable,” particularly given the critical nature of the investigation and the fact that it coincides with a highly charged election season, implying that the delay could be seen as politically motivated.

“This isn't theatrics, this isn't about political maneuvering; this is about the safety of some of the most highly targeted and valued individuals globally and within our borders,” Ocasio-Cortez emphasized.

“Answers are essential. We need to inform policy decisions.”

“Without this information, we're operating blindly,” she concluded.

Although there was some bipartisan agreement on Cheatle's suitability for the role, sharp divisions emerged between Republicans and Democrats on the committee. Some Republicans, including Lauren Boebert and Anna Luna, perpetuated conspiracy theories and questioned the competence of female agents assigned to Trump's security detail, implying they were hired based on diversity metrics rather than merit.

In contrast, Republican Michael Waltz took a different tack, criticizing Cheatle for fueling misinformation by failing to provide timely and accurate information. He argued that the vacuum created by her lack of transparency allowed conspiracy theories to spread, highlighting the need for clear communication from the Secret Service.

“I would have fired you just based on how you handled this, because you should have been the first to provide clarity,” Waltz declared.

Cheatle's testimony left lawmakers feeling exasperated and infuriated, with many expressing deep frustration at her evasive responses.

Jean Vincent, a resident of Butler, bluntly stated that Cheatle was “ducking accountability” and trying to shift the blame, rather than taking ownership of the Secret Service's failures and acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

“I'm truly surprised by how inadequate her responses were.

“She must face consequences for her complete lack of competence, which endangered our lives.”

Teresa Wilson, a former US Marine, recognized the constraints of ongoing investigations but expressed frustration with Cheatle's overly cautious approach, suggesting that the director's evasiveness went beyond what was necessary to protect sensitive information.

“The only acceptable action for her would have been to take responsibility and resign,” Wilson emphasized.

“Everything else is just distraction.”