Bipartisan Lawmakers Call for Resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle Amid Controversy over Assassination Attempt Handling

Lawmakers From Both Parties Demand Resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle

In a recent hearing taking place on Capitol Hill, Secret Service Director Kimberly A. Cheatle was confronted by lawmakers from both parties sternly demanding her resignation. The request followed a troubling congressional hearing during which Director Cheatle allegedly failed to properly answer crucial questions about the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump.

Decline to Answer Key Security Questions

According to lawmakers present at the hearing, Director Cheatle was unable to provide satisfactory answers to fundamental inquiries about the circumstances surrounding the assassination attempt. The event occurred on July 13, when a gunman targeted former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA. No clear information was provided regarding the number of agents in duty during the event, or the decision process that led to the exclusion of a nearby rooftop from the security perimeter of the event, a concerning omission given the assassin’s choice of location.

To lawmakers’ frustration, Director Cheatle was also unable to answer why Secret Service agents were not aware until the last moments that members of the crowd had identified a gunman on the neglected rooftop.

Unsatisfactory Timeline of Events

Other frustrations ensued when Director Cheatle was asked to provide a detailed timeline of the string of events leading up to the attack. Her inability to provide specifics about the timeline incited laughter in the room. This moment, among others during the hearing, led the lawmakers to question her capacity to lead the Secret Service.

Criticism From Both Sides of the Aisle

By the conclusion of the hearing, many Democratic representatives— who traditionally defend their party’s appointees— were openly critical of Director Cheatle’s actions and preparedness. This change of heart was captured in a vocalized consensus of dissatisfaction propagated by the House Oversight Committee.

Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a top Democrat on the committee, commented that he saw “no daylight” between members of the two parties, signaling their united front of “bafflement and outrage” at the proceedings. Raskin joined the committee’s Republican Chairman, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, in calling for Director Cheatle’s resignation.

Loss of Confidence and Trust

In conclusion, Representative Comer stated, “The director has lost the confidence of Congress, at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country.” This sentiment echoed through the committee, reflecting a shared concern for national security and unified disapproval of Director Cheatle’s handling of the situation.