Secret Service Director Resigns Following Attempt on Trump’s Life
In the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation on Tuesday. The incident has sparked widespread criticism over the agency’s failure to protect the Republican presidential nominee during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Admitting responsibility
Cheatle, who had been serving as the Secret Service director since August 2022, faced mounting pressure to step down. “I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she stated in an email to staff, obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Ongoing scrutiny and investigations
Cheatle’s resignation is not expected to end the scrutiny of the Secret Service, especially with the upcoming Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season. Both Democrats and Republicans have vowed to continue their investigations, alongside an inspector general probe and an independent bipartisan effort initiated by President Joe Biden.
“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle noted in her message to staff.
Intense congressional hearing
Cheatle’s resignation came a day after she faced a congressional committee, where she was criticized by both parties for the security failures. She described the assassination attempt on Trump as the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades. Despite taking responsibility, Cheatle angered lawmakers by not answering specific questions about the incident.
During the hearing, Cheatle remained defiant, asserting she was the “right person” to lead the agency. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested Cheatle start drafting her resignation letter, Cheatle replied, “No, thank you.”
Details of the assassination attempt
On July 13, 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to get within 157 yards of the stage where Trump was speaking before opening fire. This happened despite heightened security measures due to a threat to Trump’s life from Iran. Cheatle acknowledged that the Secret Service had received multiple warnings about a suspicious person before the rally. She also revealed that the roof from which Crooks fired had been identified as a potential vulnerability days prior, yet no agents were stationed there.
Trump was quickly escorted off the stage, and agency snipers neutralized the shooter. Trump sustained a wound to the upper part of his right ear. One rallygoer was killed, and two others were critically injured.
Calls for accountability
Despite Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing full support for Cheatle two days after the shooting, there were widespread calls for accountability. Congressional committees issued a subpoena for Cheatle to testify, and top Republican leaders demanded her resignation. President Biden also ordered an independent review of the rally’s security and the Secret Service’s performance, while the agency itself is reviewing its counter-sniper team’s operations.
In an interview with ABC News two days after the shooting, Cheatle had initially stated she would not resign. “The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service,” she declared. Cheatle had served in the Secret Service for 27 years before briefly leaving for a role at PepsiCo in 2021. She was appointed director by Biden in 2022 amid controversy over missing text messages related to the January 6 Capitol riot.
As the first woman to be named assistant director of protective operations and the second woman to lead the agency, Cheatle’s tenure has been marked by significant challenges and controversies. Her resignation marks a pivotal moment for the Secret Service as it navigates through intense scrutiny and a demanding election season ahead.