Kim Cheatle, the director of the US Secret Service, has resigned following a significant security lapse during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Cheatle, who has faced intense scrutiny and pressure from both political parties, took full responsibility for the incident in her resignation letter.
The assassination attempt occurred on July 13 at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting resulted in one fatality and two injuries. Cheatle’s resignation comes in the wake of a contentious congressional hearing that highlighted deficiencies in security measures.
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In response to the situation, President Joe Biden expressed his appreciation for Cheatle’s service and announced that an independent review of the incident will be conducted. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has appointed Ronald Rowe, a veteran with 24 years of experience in the Secret Service, as the acting director.
Cheatle’s tenure was marked by criticism, particularly concerning her failure to prevent the attack and her inability to provide new information during her testimony. This change in leadership reflects the administration’s response to the pressing security concerns raised by the recent attack.
Following a congressional hearing, leading committee members James Comer and Jamie Raskin sent a letter to Kim Cheatle, advocating for her resignation. Comer criticized Cheatle for failing to inspire confidence in her ability to protect the Secret Service’s mission.
He stated that her resignation was a direct result of the hearing and hinted at further accountability. In response, Trump took to social media, accusing the Biden/Harris Administration of failing to protect him adequately and stating he was “forced to take a bullet for Democracy.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson deemed Cheatle’s resignation “overdue” and expressed relief that she had stepped down, emphasizing the need to restore public trust in the Secret Service.
Teresa Wilson, an ex-marine present at the rally, welcomed Cheatle’s resignation but urged for continued independent investigation into the incident. On Capitol Hill, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris revealed security lapses before the shooting.
He noted that two officers stationed on the roof left their posts to investigate a suspicious person, and a police officer confronted the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, moments before the attack. Paris acknowledged “critical failures” at the rally but stressed that the Secret Service is ultimately responsible for security matters involving their protectee and the public.
