SECRET SERVICE Director RESIGNS
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday just under two weeks after her agency’s security breaches led to an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Cheatle, who has worked for the Secret Service for nearly 30 years, was pressured to resign by politicians from all parties after the incident, which killed one, critically injured two, and wounded the former president. In an email to colleagues, originally published by ABC News, the director stated the agency “fell short” of protecting leaders.
“In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your Director,” Cheatle wrote.
The agency was criticized for allowing a gunman to access a rooftop near Trump and fire numerous rounds into a rally gathering. Police identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. One of Crooks’ bullets missed Trump and brushed his head, injuring his ear while he spoke onstage.
Cheatle told the House Oversight Committee on Monday that the shooting was “the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.” She said the CIA was informed two to five times of a “suspicious person” at Trump’s rally before the shooting.
Despite Congress members’ queries, she rarely supplied details, citing active investigations. Her responses dissatisfied legislators, prompting Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the committee’s rarely-agreed-upon leaders, to call for her resignation. Others demanded Cheatle’s resignation at the hearing.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who has brought impeachment articles against Cheatle, requested the director to utilize her five minutes to write her resignation letter. “No, thank you,” Cheatle said.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) asked Cheatle what the agency head did after Reagan’s attempted assassination. Khanna said the director resigned, but Cheatle said he kept on.
President Joe Biden, who appointed Cheatle director in 2022, said she had “selflessly dedicated and risked her life to protect our nation.” The president promised to select a new director soon.
Biden said, “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 independent review to determine what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to its conclusions.”
Alejandro Mayorkas, who has supported Cheatle despite calls for her resignation, said she was “deeply respected by the men and women of the agency and by her fellow leaders in the Department of Homeland Security.”
