Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns after disastrous hearing over Trump assassination attempt failures
EMBATTLED US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned.
Cheatle’s resignation comes following the widespread backlash over her federal agency’s failure to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt on July 13.
Trump, who suffered a 2-centimeter wound in his right ear, lashed out at the Biden and Harris administration and blamed them for the incident.
“The Biden/Harris Administration did not properly protect me, and I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy. IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social after the news of Cheatle’s resignation broke.
President Joe Biden, who has been out of public view since isolating with Covid-19 on July 17, thanked Cheatle for her service.
“She has selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation throughout her career in the United States Secret Service,” Biden said in a statement.
“We especially thank her for answering the call to lead the Secret Service during our Administration and we are grateful for her service to our family.
“As a leader, it takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service.”
The disgraced Secret Service director, 53, announced her resignation in a letter to staff on Tuesday.
“The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders and financial infrastructure. On July 13th, we fell short on that mission,” Cheatle wrote.
“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases. As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.
“However, this incident does not define us. We remain an organization based on integrity and staffed by individuals of exceptional dedication and talent.
“As I’ve stated, the Secret Service will move forward with our investigatory and protective mission in a steadfast manner.
“We do not retreat from challenge. However, I do not want my calls for resignation to be a distraction from the great work each and every one of you do towards our vital mission.”
Cheatle continued, “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that, I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director.
“As I stated in the hearing yesterday, all of you are worthy of trust and confidence.
“You deserve the nation’s support in carrying out our critical mission. One of my favorite things about this workforce is that the men and women are fiercely committed to our mission.”
How Kimberly Cheatle frustrated lawmakers at Trump assassination hearing
US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle enraged lawmakers from both parties when she was interrogated about the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
At Monday’s hearing about the agency’s security failures during the shooting, Cheatle insisted she wouldn’t step down despite multiple calls for her resignation.
“I think I am the best person to lead the Secret Service at this time,” Cheatle said at the hearing.
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace slammed Cheatle as “full of s**t” when she maintained that she wouldn’t resign.
Rep. Ro Khanna referenced the fact that the Secret Service director that served when President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 eventually resigned.
“Do you really, genuinely, in your heart, believe that you being in this role is what’s right for America at this moment?” Khanna asked.
Cheatle said that all possible resources that were asked for at Trump’s rally were used – but lawmakers said it wasn’t enough.
“For the event in Butler, there were no requests that were denied,” Cheatle said.
“Well, maybe they got tired of asking,” GOP Rep. Jim Jordan fired back.
Rep. James Comer said that officials lost confidence in the FBI after the shooting.
Cheatle answered questions carefully but still provided no real answers as to how Trump was allowed on the unsafe rally stage in the first place after the Secret Service had been notified up to five times that there was a suspicious person in the area.
She also said that she “wouldn’t give specifics” about that day as the investigation was ongoing.
Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown told Cheatle, “You’re not making this easy for us.”
This comes as
- President Joe Biden announced that he won’t be running in the 2024 presidential election
- Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency
- Harris immediately launched her bid for the White House and raised a record $81 million in 24 hours
- She vowed to unite Democrats after securing enough delegates to officially win the nomination
- Biden’s youngest brother revealed that he waited to resign from the race as he doubted Harris could beat former President Donald Trump
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Cheatle’s resignation was “overdue.”
“Now we have to pick up the pieces. We have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service as an agency,” Johnson said.
“It has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents, and other officials in the executive branch, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
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